Shadow Theaters of the World

This paper examines the origin of the shadow theaters of the world including those of India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Egypt, Turkey, China, and Europe, and the relationships among the various traditions. Theories which have been advanced are discussed and analyzed, along with suggestions of other...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asian folklore studies Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 25 - 64
Main Author: Chen, Fan Pen
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Nagoya Nanzan University, Anthropological Institute 01.01.2003
Nanzan University
Subjects:
Chinese languages
Cognitive problems, arts and sciences, folk traditions, folklore
Dance dramas
Ethnology
History
International aspects
Keywords
Leathers
Origin
Performances, theater, carnival
Performing artists
Poetry
Puppet shows
Puppetry
Puppets
Shadow puppet plays
Shadow shows
South Asian studies
Steppes
Theater
Theaters & cinemas
Traditions
Asia
Europe
Southeast Asia
Persia
China
Taiwan
Central Asia
India
Indonesia
Origin
Cultural influence
Cultural interaction
Cross-cultural analysis
Shadow theatre
Puppet theatre
Wayang
Performing arts
ISSN:0385-2342, 1882-6865
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This paper examines the origin of the shadow theaters of the world including those of India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Egypt, Turkey, China, and Europe, and the relationships among the various traditions. Theories which have been advanced are discussed and analyzed, along with suggestions of other possibilities. Although all the shadow theater traditions of the world are highly distinctive, many links and influences have existed among them. This study suggests that the shadow theater may have originated in either Central Asia or India. The Euro-Asian steppe and the seas between Africa, Asia and Southeast Asia may have served as avenues that linked disparate shadow traditions, and some influences were probably not unidirectional. The paper also refutes numerous theories concerning the relationship between Chinese Shadows and those of the rest of the world.
Bibliography:SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Commentary-1
content type line 14
ISSN:0385-2342
1882-6865