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Civilization Object No. 085
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Shadow Puppet Carving Craft

皮影雕刻

The meticulous craft of carving leather into articulated shadow puppets — each character is a miniature sculpture requiring days of knife work.

dna Heritage DNA
history Origin

Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)

category Domain

traditional crafts

verified Level

National Heritage

pin_drop Region

Northwest China

pulse Status

endangered

Shadow puppet carving is the craft of creating the intricate leather puppets used in shadow puppetry performances. Using donkey, cow, or sheep leather, artisans trace designs, cut out detailed patterns with knives, and apply translucent dyes. Each puppet is carved in separate jointed pieces — head, torso, arms, legs — that are assembled with wire for articulation. Regional carving styles differ: Shaanxi favors bold, rugged cuts while Tangshan pursues delicate, refined details.

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Relationship Constellation

This heritage item connects to 4 entities across the atlas — masters, places, festivals, and stories.

pin_drop Xi'an location person Chinese Shadow Puppetry ich person Han Dynasty dynasty person Guanzhong region
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