When was shadow puppetry invented

Many puppeteers also carve the puppets, which can have between twelve and twenty-four moveable joints. Shadow plays are performed by large troupes with seven to nine performers and smaller troupes of only two to five, primarily for entertainment or religious rituals, weddings and funerals and other special occasions. Some puppeteers are professional, while others are amateurs performing during slack farming seasons. The use of shadows to amuse and entertain has a very long history.

There are records of shadow puppets being used in performances in China and India more than two thousand years ago. The simplest shadow shows are created by our own hands. They were particularly popular in the 19th Century, when many books were produced illustrating ways of making animals and people appear on a wall, sometimes with the assistance of a few carefully positioned props.

Here are some hand shadow images. See how you get on with trying to make them for yourself. You'll need a strong light source a bedside lamp will do fine and a white or light-coloured wall to act as your screen. Wonderopolis Jul 6, May 14, Hi wonderopolis. Shadow puppets are when you take your hand and you put your hand over light and you make your hand a design, because I once took my hand over light and I made a bunny. Wonderopolis May 14, Mushkale May 2, Wonderopolis May 3, That video is the coolest thing my friend Maegan has ever seen.

Wonderopolis May 2, That was awesome! I wish I was there to see that in person. Wonderopolis Apr 30, Seth Roemen Apr 29, I love Wonderopolis!!!!!!!

I check it every day!!!! Thanks for creating this website!!!!! Wonderopolis Apr 29, I'm from Mr. Draper's class. I really like the video it was cool! It was cool. I like to make shadow puppets.

I think tomorrow's wonder is about fries Mr Smith Apr 29, I find this extremely interesting and cool! The video was awesome!! Thanks, man! Pandakin Apr 29, That was an awesome video. I think tomorrow's wonder is about flowers, because it is spring. Kayla Apr 29, Hi guys! I actually saw a Chinese movie that had shadow puppets in it and it was so cool! Also at an art museum there was a Japanese guy who came and showed them and did a little show!

It was amazing! TJ Apr 29, Today's wonder of the day is not about weather changing. However, I loved today's wonder! Their simple parasols cast shadows that were so lifelike, he was struck with an illuminating idea.

That night, the advisor invited the Emperor to the courtyard for a special performance; there he conjured the likeness of the late Empress with such mastery that the Emperor was revived and went on to rule for many prosperous years.

And while the origin legend is certainly more fiction than fact, it speaks to the historic power of the shadow.