According to historical records, in the last years of the Northern Song Dynasty, shadow puppetry was very prosperous and often performed in the market. By the time of the Southern Song Dynasty, due to the strong social demand, there were many artists who specialized in carving shadow puppets in the capital Lin'an (now Hangzhou), and there were troupes specializing in shadow puppetry, as well as many outstanding artists. From the notes of the Song people, it is not difficult to find that the common people at that time were intoxicated by the performance of a hundred opera arts in an environment of economic prosperity and affluence. The artists provided entertainment for the royal family, wealthy officials, ordinary people, and even soldiers who had been stationed in Beijing for a long time. Shadow puppetry also plays an extremely important role in various festivals. Whether in rural or urban areas, shadow puppetry is an entertainment and performance program to reward the gods for gratitude, official promotion, birthday weddings, etc.
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Shadow puppet troupe and artists
During the Song Dynasty, shadow puppetry was organized by professional shadow troupes and clubs, which were not only performances in urban amusement places such as wazi (folk markets), but also performances in the imperial court. During the Chongning and Daguan periods of the Northern Song Dynasty (1104-1110), there were more than ten film and opera troupes in the capital city of Bianliang (now Kaifeng). After the Jin soldiers broke through Kaifeng, they took away more than 150 artists of all kinds from the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, including artists who "played shadow plays" and "puppets" (that is, puppet shows). According to the records of books such as "The Return of Wulin", "Menglianglu", and "The Old Man of West Lake", the film and drama troupes more than doubled in the Northern Song Dynasty, with a total of 23. Of particular note is the organization of the "Painted Leather Society" and the specialized industry of shadow puppet carving.
An entertainer demonstrates a shadow puppet performance
The troupe of the rich and powerful
The earliest film troupe of the rich and aristocratic was a domestic drama troupe brought by Prince Li from outside the customs in the fifth year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1666). There are eight people in charge of film and drama, and they give ICBC five taels a month, and they are prepared for food and lodging. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, many wealthy families, merchants and eunuchs who had retired to the forest set up opera troupes, some for the sake of festivals, or entertaining relatives and friends, and some for profit. Some businesses in Shanxi also specialize in or regularly hire film and drama troupes, and during the "God of Wealth Conference", they perform on stage in a row, which is quite competitive.
Entertainment for festive celebrations
Shadow and opera play an important role in traditional festivals and temple fairs, and China has been a country based on agriculture since ancient times, and attaches great importance to the Spring Festival and the birthday of the gods and Buddhas. The Spring Festival generally starts on the 15th day of the first lunar month and ends on the second day of the second lunar month. The land is the foundation of the growth of all things, the land god is the shrine god, the birthday of the land god is said to be different, each has its own worship, in addition to offering chickens and ducks, many places want to perform shadow puppetry. From the winter solstice to the Spring Festival, it is the agricultural slack season, in addition to professional filmmakers, some half-agricultural and half-art film and drama artists also go out to perform; After the beginning of summer, in order to protect the seedlings, the villagers prayed to remove insect pests, and also performed shadow dramas and puppet shows. In the past, when Beijing and Chengdu encountered weddings, funerals or birthdays, there was also a tradition of inviting film troupes to set up studios or perform in living rooms. For example, her mother often performed "Mother-in-law's Tattoo"; Shengzi performed "Heavenly Fairy Sending Child"; When the brother died, "Crying Peach Garden" was performed. Regardless of the joy or sorrow, they all sing auspicious dramas, and "happy things are done" is a custom since ancient times. Guild opera also plays an important role in folk life, such as the medicine king meeting held in the traditional Chinese medicine industry, and the film and opera troupe often performs the play of Sun Simiao's sanctification; Generally, Qian number grain merchants often perform auspicious dramas such as "The Blessing of Heavenly Officials".
Sun Simiao
A native of Huayuan (now southeast of Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province) in the Tang Dynasty. Secluded in the world, erudite, and through medicine, he was enshrined as the king of medicine.
Liang Hongyu