• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.666-672
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• 2024

Shadow puppetry (皮影戏) is a traditional Chinese folk art that was inscribed in 2011 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This study focuses on analyzing the character sculptures, colors, and patterns recorded in professional books from Shanxi Province in northern China. The findings indicate that Shanxi shadow puppetry can be categorized into two types. The 'Xiaoyi' in northern Shanxi mainly features characters from the story of 'The Investiture of the Gods' (封神演义) and is characterized by the use of both intaglio and relief carving, dark colors, and a paper screen background. The 'Houma' shadow puppetry in southern Shanxi is influenced by the traditional Shanxi opera 'Jinju' (晋剧) and features four roles: Sheng (生), Dan (旦), Jing (净), and Chou (丑), using a mesh screen background. Shadow puppetry represents costumes, beliefs, lifestyles, social status, social systems, and Confucian culture from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, utilizing both intaglio and relief elements, and traditional five-element colors(五行色). This study aims to understand the characteristics of the modeling art in Shanxi shadow puppetry, and to maintain the traditional craft features while adding innovative elements from animation and film, thereby promoting and preserving the traditional values of shadow puppetry culture for children and youth.