Where did shadow play originate?

China's traditional shadow play art originated from Shaanxi in the Western Han Dynasty. It is one of the earliest operas in China, and it can be called the originator of today's film and television art. According to historical records, shadow play began in the pre-Qin Dynasty (Shaanxi), flourished in the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Song Dynasty, spread to West Asia and Europe in the Yuan Dynasty, and flourished in Hebei in the Qing Dynasty.

Shadow play is also called sheepskin play, commonly known as head play and shadow play. As the name implies, shadow play is made of leather. Cowhide and donkey skin are better for firmness and transparency.

When coloring, five kinds of fixed transparent pigments such as red, yellow, cyan, green and black are mainly used. It is precisely because of these special materials that the shadows of figures and props in shadow play projected on the screen under the backlight are magnificent and crystal clear, with unique aesthetic feeling.

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Due to the wide spread of shadow play in China, different schools have been formed in the long-term evolution of different regions, such as Sichuan shadow play, Hubei shadow play, Hunan shadow play, Beijing shadow play, Tangshan shadow play, Shandong shadow play, Shanxi shadow play, Qinghai shadow play, Ningxia shadow play, Shaanxi shadow play, and other local shadow plays with different styles.

The musical vocals and rhythms of shadow play around the country absorbed the essence of local opera, folk art, folk songs and minor music system, and formed many colorful schools.

There are Mianyang shadow play, Tangshan shadow play, Jinan shadow play, Xiaoyi shadow play, Fuzhou shadow play, Haining shadow play, Lufeng shadow play, Huaxian shadow play, Huayin old tune, Agong tune, Xianban tune, Huanxian Taoist shadow play, Lingyuan shadow play and so on.