Shanxi Shadow Puppetry Workshop: A Millennia-Old Legend in Light and Shadow

山西皮影戏，是用牛皮雕刻人形物状，借灯光在幕布上显影的一种民间戏曲演艺，2006年被列入首批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。表演时以白布为幕，麻油灯亮影，通过艺人灵巧的操控，让皮革雕刻的人物在光影中演绎悲欢离合。影人造型古朴粗犷，刀法遒劲，色彩简练，兼具黄土高原的率真与深厚文化内涵。

Shanxi shadow puppetry is a form of folk operatic performance where figures and objects are carved out of cowhide and projected onto a screen with the help of lighting. In 2006, it was inscribed on the first list of China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage. During performances, a white cloth is used as the screen, and sesame oil lamps cast the shadows. Through the skillful manipulation of the artisans, the leather-carved characters come to life on the screen, portraying the joys and sorrows of human existence. The shadow puppets feature a primitive and rugged style, with forceful carving techniques and concise colors, embodying the straightforwardness of the Loess Plateau and profound cultural connotations.

皮影制作工艺繁复考究，需经历选皮、浆皮、雕刻、敷彩等20余道工序。匠人们精选上等牛皮或驴皮，经过浸泡、刮制、晾晒等处理，使其薄如蝉翼却坚韧耐用。雕刻时讲究"三分刻七分绘"，刀工细腻流畅。颜料提取自天然植物，如栀子制黄、紫铜浸酸取绿，色彩历经百年仍鲜艳如初。

The craftsmanship involved in making shadow puppets is intricate and meticulous, requiring more than 20 processes including skin selection, sizing, carving, and painting. Craftsmen carefully select high-quality cowhide or donkey hide, which undergoes processes such as soaking, scraping, and sun-drying to make it as thin as a cicada's wing yet tough and durable. In carving, the principle of "three parts carving, seven parts painting" is followed, with delicate and fluid knifework. The pigments are extracted from natural plants, such as gardenia for yellow and copper immersed in acid for green, ensuring that the colors remain vibrant even after a hundred years.

近年来，山西皮影戏在传承中不断创新。国家级传承人侯建川不仅编纂《孝义皮影戏知识》留存技艺，还与云冈石窟合作，创作佛教题材皮影戏，突破传统道教故事框架。2024年春节期间，孝义市皮影木偶剧团在云冈石窟前演出《云冈的故事》，将传统艺术与佛教文化完美融合。如今，山西多地开设皮影戏工坊，让游客亲身体验这门古老艺术。在专业艺人指导下学习皮影雕刻技法，亲手制作专属影人；也可以尝试操控影人，在幕布后演绎经典故事。

In recent years, Shanxi shadow puppetry has continued to innovate while preserving its heritage. Hou Jianchuan, a national-level inheritor, not only compiled Knowledge of Xiaoyi Shadow Puppetry to preserve the craftsmanship but also collaborated with the Yungang Grottoes to create shadow puppetry with Buddhist themes, breaking through the traditional framework of Taoist stories. During the Spring Festival in 2024, the Xiaoyi Shadow Puppet and Puppetry Troupe performed The Story of Yungang in front of the Yungang Grottoes, seamlessly integrating traditional art with Buddhist culture. Nowadays, shadow puppetry workshops have been established in many parts of Shanxi, allowing visitors to experience this ancient art firsthand. Under the guidance of professional artisans, visitors can learn shadow puppet carving techniques and create their own exclusive puppet figures. They can also try manipulating the puppets and performing classic stories behind the screen.

我们诚挚邀请海内外游客走进山西皮影戏工坊，感受光影艺术的千年魅力。在这里，您不仅能欣赏到精彩的皮影表演，更能亲手参与创作，带走一份独特的文化记忆。让我们共同守护这项珍贵的非物质文化遗产，让皮影戏的光影传奇继续闪耀！

We sincerely invite visitors from home and abroad to step into the Shanxi shadow puppetry workshops and feel the millennial charm of this light and shadow art. Here, you can not only enjoy wonderful shadow puppet performances but also participate in the creation process and take away a unique cultural memory. Let us work together to safeguard this precious intangible cultural heritage and ensure that the legendary light and shadow of shadow puppetry continue to shine!

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来源：中华网综合整理

Source: Comprehensive collation by sx.china.com