Shadow play tradition passed down through three generations

In west Yunnan’s Tengchong City lives a family of shadow players. From grandfather Liu Yongzhou, to his son Liu Ankui and his grandson Liu Chaokan, they have never given up their love of this special art.

Traditional Chinese shadow plays are a type of folk drama in which silhouettes made of animal hide or cardboard are projected onto a white screen. The performer manipulates the characters behind the screen while singing to tell the story. In west Yunnan’s Tengchong City lives a family of shadow players, who have passed down the art for generations.

Born in 1944, Liu Yongzhou lives a simple and happy life, accompanied by the shadow play. When he was young, he travelled from village to village performing the shadow play wherever he could. With the rise of films and television in the late 1980s, shadow plays gradually declined in popularity. Liu Yongzhou did not know how long he would be able to carry on the tradition, even after it had been passed down for generations.

Liu Ankui, the eldest son of Liu Yongzhou, was also very fond of shadow plays. In 2006, Liu Ankui gave up his wholesale business and returned home to build shadow play sets with his father. Under the instructions of Liu Yongzhou, Liu Ankui improved the set production process. He replaced the original sets with exquisite leather handicrafts that are of uniform thickness and feature smooth lines and rich colours. These handicrafts are now popular with tourists.

After graduating from college in 2015, Liu Chaokan, Liu Yongzhou’s grandson, joined his father and grandfather in producing and performing shadow play.

In 2015, Liu Chaokan got a bold idea of opening a theatre of his own, which won the strong support of his grandfather. And in 2016, his dream came true. Last year, his theater began to make money. Now Liu Chaokan collaborated with travel agencies and e-businesses to introduce the shadow play for more people. 

Photo by Meng Zhigang; Editor: Wang Shixue