Chinese Shadow Theatre: History, Popular Religion, and Women Warriors

Fan Pen Li Chen's study of Chinese shadow theatre documents and corrects misconceptions about this once-popular art form, arguing that it served a mainly religious function during the Qing dynasty and that the appeal of women warrior characters reflected the lower classes' high tolerance for the unorthodox and subversive. It includes rare transcriptions of oral performances and translations of three rare, hand-copied shadow plays featuring religious themes and women warrior characters. Chen examines the relationship between historical and fictional women warriors and those in military romances and shadow plays to demonstrate the significance of both printed works and oral transmission in the diffusion of popular culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 15 March 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

In her comprehensive exploration of Chinese shadow theatre, Fan Pen Li Chen delves into the rich tapestry of this once-beloved art form, shedding light on misconceptions and correcting them with meticulous documentation and fieldwork. Through her extensive research, she compellingly argues that these plays held a predominantly religious significance during the Qing dynasty, resonating with the lower classes' remarkable tolerance for the unconventional and subversive.

Chinese Shadow Theatre boasts a treasure trove of rare transcriptions, including a captivating didactic play that delves into the eighteen realms of Hell, as well as the sacred saga of Investiture of the Gods. Additionally, Chen has painstakingly translated three rare, hand-copied shadow plays that revolve around religious themes and feature captivating women warrior characters.

Chen's meticulous examination explores the intricate relationship between historical and fictional women warriors, as well as their counterparts in military romances and shadow plays. By highlighting the significance of both printed works and oral transmission in the widespread dissemination of popular culture, she underscores the academic value of traditional folk theatre. Moreover, by forging connections between recent scholarship on drama, popular religion, and popular culture, Chen demonstrates the profound depth and richness of this art form, making it a subject deserving of rigorous scholarly inquiry.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228011873