Description
Book SynopsisChinese Shadow Theatre documents and corrects misconceptions about this once-popular art form. Fan Pen Li 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.
Trade Review"Most compelling is the discussion of gender, the rich images and motifs associated with female warriors, and the role of women in upholding or subverting the value system of their cultures." Amila Buturovic, humanities, York University
"An important book for what it tells us about the history of society and the arts in China. The social themes are woven into the artistic and literary and Chen includes coverage of the other performing arts and an extensive history of the mask in China." Colin Mackerras, Asian studies, Griffith University
"Guiding us through a millennium of Chinese shadow theater history, with a particular focus on the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Chen harnesses her versatility and expertise in the fields of drama, history, popular culture, ethnography, and linguistics to present a rich picture of this theatrical tradition, its importance in popular religion, and the significant role of women warriors in its repertoire." CHINOPERL Papers
“Chen has done us a great service through this major and highly original analysis of shadow theatre. The documentation, based on field research and extensive printed material, is excellent.” China Review International
“Chen's book is a welcome development to both Chinese theatre and puppetry studies. She has rendered Chinese shadow theatre accessible to a contemporary international audience and demonstrated its rightful place as an important part of China's popular cultural heritage." Theatre Research International
