Objectives
- Learn about traditional Chinese culture and arts through shadow puppetry
- Explore the relationship between shadow puppetry and light and shadow
- Learn about the materials used to make shadow puppets and how to operate them
- Experience operating shadow puppets
Brief Discriptions
The school invited a puppet troupe to perform shadow puppet plays and puppet shows. The troupe presented a total of four shadow puppet plays, introduced the materials used to make the puppets and the principles behind their operation, and even invited some of the children to try operating the puppets themselves under guidance. This allowed the children to learn about traditional Chinese art and culture in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, while also understanding the relationship between shadow puppetry and light.
The first shadow puppet play was titled “The Battle Between the Lion and the Dragon.” The performers introduced the shadow puppets to the children, explaining that they are made from animal hides (sheep, cow, and donkey). This helped the children understand that animal hides are translucent and allow light to pass through. The performers then demonstrated how different characters and animals are hand-drawn and coloured onto the hides, and finally, how a control rod is attached to create the shadow puppets. Next, the performers used shadow puppets to present the next performance, “The Legend of the White Snake”. During part of the performance, the performers stepped in front of the screen to demonstrate how the shadow puppets are operated, helping the children understand the principles behind their manipulation and showing them how to operate the puppets themselves.
Afterward, the performers present a segment of “The Legend of the White Snake” using rod puppets, which are also recognized as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Through this opportunity, the children can appreciate both shadow puppetry and rod puppet performances.
The segment that most captivated the children was the final part of “The Legend of the White Snake (Part 3)—The Flooding of Golden Mountain”. The animal characters and their movements in the story deeply fascinated the children, who were entertained to the point of laughter. Finally, the performers invited the children to come up on stage and operate the shadow puppets themselves under their guidance—a truly rare and memorable experience for the children.
School-based Learning Activity of Chinese Culture Display Form
