Shadow Puppetry (皮影戏) started during the Western Han Dynasty. It used to be popular in the countryside because it was simple and cheap. It’s a mix of acting, singing and music. It tells us about historical stories, passing on (传递) customs and traditional culture.

The puppets are usually made from paper or animal skin (皮肤). It is not easy to make them. In Shaanxi — the birthplace of shadow puppetry, puppet-makers have to follow 24 steps (步骤) to make a puppet. Each puppet usually has 11 parts, such as its head, legs and arms.

Wang Haiyan’s father is a master (大师) of Shadow Puppetry from Shaanxi. When she was a kid, she helped her father make puppets. “They were my favourite toys,” Wang said. At around 13, she started to learn to make puppets and perform with her father. Now the 44-year-old lady is a master. She has her own workroom to pass on the art.

These days, Wang came up with (提出) creative ways to make the folk art more popular. She works with companies that borrow elements (元素) of Shadow Puppetry for their own products. “From fashion and makeup products to souvenirs (纪念品), anything is possible,” Wang said.

In 2016, Wang made shadow puppets based on the cartoon series Huyao Xiaohongniang, and put on a live performance. She used special colours and skills to make the performances more interesting. She teaches Shadow Puppetry classes in school as well. “I hope more young people can learn about the art!” she said.