THE COLOR OF SHADOWS IN CHINA Composition and function
Shadow puppetry is an ancient and simple folk art in China. Animal skins are used to carve them and then light projection technology is used to project them onto a white standing curtain for the performance.
The shades are characterized by vivid artistic shapes and gorgeous colors. Priority is given to red, yellow, green, black, white.
In the past these five colors were positive colors, which were closely related to cosmology and the "five elements" in metaphysics. Artists mainly used two methods to extract colors, one was extracted from minerals and the other from plants.
This unique method made the color purity of the shadow play very high.
The philosophy of yin-yang and five elements in China mainly refers to gold, wood, water, fire and earth, which correspond to green wood, white gold, red fire, black water and yellow earth . These colors are specific to the shadow play language, and their symbolism is detailed and diverse.
Color is used to enrich the image of the figure and distinguish the characteristics of identity and personality. For example, in facial colors, red symbolizes the figure's loyalty and justice, black bravery and straightforwardness, yellow cunning, white beauty or treachery, and green generally symbolizes the grotesque figure.
In the scenographies of shadows the use of color is also rich in symbolism.
For example, a palace building is bright and versatile, the doors, windows and pillars painted in red, tiles complemented by green, having an overall color relationship to show its magnificence, majesty and spectacular.
The symbolic language of color in shadow play art is also reflected in the omen implication of color. Red symbolizes prosperity and happiness, while yellow symbolizes wealth.
The application of color in folk shadow art takes flat painting as a coloring method, contrasts and harmonizes it to meet aesthetic needs. These aspects are purely decorative.
Shadow puppeteers also choose colors from their perspective and give them meanings based on their thoughts, emotions, preferences, and other personal aspects, as well as combining them to express character characteristics. These subjective colors not only express the artist's feelings but also conform to people's aesthetic taste.
In conclusion, the color language of shadow play is symbolic, decorative and personal.
The Chinese shadow theater is also part of the Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
At MIT we have a sample inside ours Collection of puppets.
