| Themes > Arts > Drawing > Silhouettes Drawing > Papercuts and Silhouettes |
It is popular in Gaomi, Shandong Province and
used as window and gate ornaments, box and case, and cupboard. It is
directly cut on paper without draft pattern. It is characterized by the
image in saw- toothed shape and straight line.
It is a type of folk paper-cutting in Foshan,
Guangdong Province. It was in vogue in the Song Dynasty, and flourished in
the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is made by a way of scissor cutting,
carving, chiselling, printing, writing, etc. The materials used are pure-colour
paper, copper, golden colour paper,etc. It is cut and engraved with knife,
scissors and copper utensil. A century ago,Foshan paper-cutting artifact
served as the draft for architecture and furniture engraving. Later on it
served as indoor decoration.
This folk art is widely spread, which uses
the folk handiworks: leather silhouette figure and highlighting background.
It is said that shadow play originated in the Han Dynasty and became
flourished in the Song Dynasty. Its popularity culminated in the Yuan
Dynasty and spread to Persia.In the Ming and Qing Dynasties it was divided
into many sects and spread to Java, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and Japan,
etc. Of the sects in the Qing Dynasty,Luanzhou shadow play is the most
famous.While in performance, a curtain is hung against which a lamp or
candle is lit. Behind the curtain the performer manipulate the silhouettes
to act, accompanied by singing,reading lines and playing musical
instruments. Some shadow play troupes are made up of singers, drum players
and their assistants. The roles of the play are characterized into painted
face, male, female, and comic role. It is said that it emerged in the Ming
Dynasty. This shadow play participated in the theatrical festival held in
Beijing in 1503. It is also said that the shadow play was circulated into
Hebei Province and finally reached Beijing. It is divided into the east and
west sects. Not only acclaimed by farmers and citizens, it was also put on
in the imperial palace. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi,an official
ranking the fifth place was in charge of shadow play. Duringthe reign of
Emperor Jiaqing, shadow play troupes were summoned to the imperial palace
and give performance on Spring Festivals and happy occasions.At that time
the shadow play troupes in Beijing performed puppets in the daytime and
shadow play for home celebration at night. Many Beijing Opera actors also
performed shadow play. Since the middle of the Qing Dynasty, it had borrowed
facial masks from Beijing Opera.
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Information supplied by: http://www.seu.edu.cn |