Great Wall Network Jiyun client reporter Song Jianjun Jin Zongming trainee reporter Hou Jiazheng
"People are happy and happy, and the weather is new! The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was held, and Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, as one of the venues, was very lively! ”
A sonorous and powerful recitation, a move and a style of emotional interpretation. After the film, the 76-year-old Li Wenze and several companions are rehearsing "Winter Olympic Dream in Shadow Puppets", a shadow puppet play they carefully arranged to welcome the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
In the small studio, the performers sing and mobilize various props, which are vivid and interesting.
The 76-year-old Li Wenze is a loyal lover of shadow puppetry. When he was twelve or thirteen years old, there were often shadow puppet shows in the village, and since then he has fallen in love with this ancient art.
"At that time, when I had change, I bought paper shadow people, and in the air raid shelter, I lit foreign oil lamps and candles, and sang!" Old Man Li Wenze was still very excited when he talked about the previous events.
After participating in the work, the old man also went to Zunhua to find a professional shadow puppet artist to learn shadow carving. Today, in the old man's home, there are still several large shadow boxes, which contain his most valued treasures - shadow people and shadow scrolls.
"Donkey skin, with 100 bodies and 500 heads, can be combined according to the needs of the performance, and we go to various villages every year to perform!" Li Wenze said.
Shadow puppet production is very complex, from the drawing, engraving, coloring, ironing, embellishment, etc., requires many processes. A shadow puppet needs to be carved by hand with thousands of knives, and it must be done in one go during the carving.
In recent years, with the death of shadow puppet artists around them, it is becoming more and more difficult to perform a complete repertoire, so Li Wenze and his companions have recorded the singing voice with recording equipment, played it during the performance, and then performed with the filmmakers.
"In my life, as long as I can move, I will pass on this art." Old Man Li Wenze said firmly.
Cold and summer, shadow art has accompanied the elderly Li Wenze for more than 60 spring and autumn seasons. In recent years, in order to have a rehearsal venue, the old man has also built a studio in his own yard, and he often invites his friends to come to the house to play shadow people, sing shadow plays, and carve shadow people in his leisure time.
The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics kicked off on February 4. The elderly Li Wenze began to write his own screenplay and carve filmmakers early. In his shadow puppet world, he put on ice shoes for the four Tang monks and apprentices; behind his shadow cloth, he also followed the shadow people to the scene of the Winter Olympics.
"We hope to help and cheer for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics through shadow puppetry!" The old man held the shadow man in his hand and smiled happily.
Acknowledgement
Propaganda Department of Qianxi County CPC Committee
Donghuangyu Town People's Government