Editor's Note: This article is produced in collaboration with the Chongqing Institute of Foreign Studies as part of a series of ongoing reports exploring the city's abundant resources in intangible cultural heritages.
Shadow Play in Three Gorges Area. (Wushan County)
When it comes to shadow play in the Three Gorges area, one might envision a scene with a pristine white curtain as a backdrop, behind which artists skillfully manipulate flat puppet figures of various shapes and colors. Accompanied by the melodies of Wushan tunes, these puppets engage in combat, flip, laugh, and rant, casting an interplay of shadows and light that beautifully narrates the joys and sorrows of life.
"The censor walks, the mountain shakes. Cut through the mountains on the way with roads, span over the rivers across the path with bridges. Move the dragon’s horn, pluck the tiger’s fur..." This excerpt from Evergreen Grass in Generals of the Yang Family, performed by He Shihong, the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of shadow play in the Three Gorges area, depicts the story of the loyal and heroic Yang family, who defended the nation during the Northern Song Dynasty.
The shadow play in the Three Gorges area is divided into two main categories based on their plots: ancient plays and modern plays. The content mainly draws from historical stories and folklore. In addition to Generals of the Yang Family, other ancient plays include Investiture of the Gods, Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, All Men Are Brothers, and The Romance of The West Chamber. Modern plays, on the other hand, feature improvised spoken parts at the beginning, middle, or end of the main play, which vary according to the protagonist’s identity. For instance, if the protagonist is a farmer, the narration might say, "A seed planted in the spring can yield ten thousand grains in the autumn." If the protagonist is a merchant, it might go, "Take the wealth and enjoy the blessings from all directions." This flexible and engaging approach to storytelling not only showcases the social and cultural customs of different historical periods in China but also highlights the unparalleled wisdom and profound national spirit of the Chinese people, emphasizing their deep-rooted love for their homeland.
As one of China’s oldest traditional folk arts, shadow play in the Three Gorges area has a history spanning over a thousand years. It originated during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties when traveling performers from Sichuan and Hunan brought this art form to the Three Gorges region. Initially, shadow play was a primitive and common means of praying to the gods. Over time, it evolved into a form of entertainment for the Wushan people, providing relief from physical labor and adding joy to their lives. Passed down through generations and infused with local culture and customs, shadow play in the Wushan area gradually developed distinct regional features, becoming a quintessential representative of the Three Gorges shadow play, also known as "Wushan Shadow Play."
Performances of shadow play in the Three Gorges usually involve three to five artists. They are categorized as Tongzi (or "Shangshou"), who is the drummer and sets the tune; Xiashou, responsible for playing the gong, cymbal, and wooden clappers; Lanmen (or "Zouying"), who manipulates the puppets; and Wenchang, who plays the erhu, suona, flute, and so on.
In terms of vocal performance, the shadow play in the Three Gorges area is characterized by “nine boards and thirteen tunes,” with “board” referring to instrumental play and “tune” to the singing style, both adhering to extremely strict rhythms. The music and singing blend elements from Sichuan opera, Hubei Bangzi opera, Tujia opera "duangong dance," local Wushan folk songs and tunes, as well as unique adaptations of daidai tune, huagu tune, keke tune, and suona board, creating a mysterious and unique atmosphere.
The material and design of the Three Gorges shadow puppets primarily use cowhide, with each puppet measuring about seven or eight inches long. The animal designs include cattle, horses, dragons, tigers, dogs, birds, etc. The human characters are similar to those in traditional opera, with different facial colors indicating different roles: pink-faced characters are traitorous ministers, black-faced ones are loyal ministers, red-faced ones are warriors, and green-faced ones depict monsters, representing good, evil, and beauty in various stories.
Shadow play in the Three Gorges is an ancient and rare art form, a treasure that melds folk craftsmanship with operatic storytelling and serves as a witness to history. It embodies the unwavering love for home and country and the spirit of unity and perseverance of the Bayu people. Despite the challenges posed by the rapid evolution of the information age, which threatens the survival of this art form, it is believed that as long as people continue to value and safeguard it, the Three Gorges shadow play will endure.
Translation:Yang Ji
Tutored by: Cheng Guo, Jiang Jun, Hu Wei
Voice-over: Wang Rui
Tutored by: Ren Yi