The Process of Making Shadow Play
制作皮影的过程
Regular shadow figure head is a full profile,known as "half face." Clown and villain sometimes are given half profile，called "70% face"; fairies and Buddha are shown with a full face. Shadow figure's body is mostly 70%. Carving of shadow figures is very particular. It requires using knife with ease and making forms smoothly. The hollowed-out facial outline,in particular, requires an exceptional skill in craftsmanship, making lines as thin as "stretching wires," sharp and translucent. Body figure using chisel engraving has a variety of designs, including snow flake, letter "Wan" shape, wealth and fortune,wintersweet,fish scale, pine needle and star eyes, etc. Leather silhouette coloring is usually bright add transparent,mostly in black, red, yellow, and green. Music accompaniment are four string and south string instrument; bowed instrument; four-string moonshaped instrument; drum,gong；flute；hand allegro and horn. Based on geographical localities， each place has its own unique style and characteristics in shadow figure design, music and instrument.
常规的皮影人物头像是一个侧面，被称为“半脸。”小丑和恶棍有时给出一半的空间，所谓的“70％的脸”;仙女和佛都会有全脸。影子人物的身体是大多是70%。雕刻的皮影是非常特别的。它需要使用小刀轻松自如地顺利雕刻。在中空的脸部的轮廓线，特别是需要极好的工艺技能，使得线薄如“电线”，锋利和半透明的。用凿子雕刻身材有多种设计，包括雪花，字母“万”字形，招财进宝，梅花，鱼鳞，松针和星星眼等。皮革剪影着色通常是光亮透明的，大多采用黑色，红色，黄色和绿色。四弦和南部弦乐器伴奏，弓弦乐器;四弦月形乐器;鼓，锣，笛子，手快板和喇叭。基于地理地区的不同，每个地方都有自己独特的风格和皮影设计，音乐和乐器特点。