Shadow puppetry makes UNESCO list

Chinese shadow puppetry has been added to the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the UN cultural agency says in a statement on Sunday.

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage, which is meeting in Bali, Indonesia, until Nov 29, inscribed on Saturday two items from Belgium and China on the list.

Chinese shadow puppetry is a form of theater in which colorful silhouette figures perform traditional plays against a backlit cloth screen, accompanied by music and singing.

Puppeteers fashion the puppets from leather or paper, and manipulate their movements with rods.

The puppeteers' skills of simultaneously manipulating several puppets, improvising vocal songs and playing various musical instruments are handed down through families and troupes.

The committee officially recognizes that shadow puppetry spreads knowledge, promotes cultural values and entertains the community, especially youths.

Source: China Daily, December 5, 2011