Team fuses puppetry with digital media

Using computer design software and ultraviolet printing technology, Zhang Yuhan and her team have blended 2,000-year-old shadow puppetry with modern technology and popular culture, creating an innovative and evolving system for the ancient craft.

After entering Heilongjiang University in 2022, Zhang, 21, a junior student at the College of History, Culture and Tourism, began researching shadow puppet projects through various channels.

"I come from Xiaoyi city in Shanxi province," said Zhang. "Shadow puppet plays are popular across the city and neighboring areas."

The art was introduced to Xiaoyi in the Warring States period (770-221 BC) and developed during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), and it enjoyed its heyday during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

When she first watched a performance of the art in primary school, she said she fell in love with it. During each Spring Festival, shadow puppet performances remain an indispensable part of the city's cultural activities.

With deft hands, artists bring ancient stories and legendary figures to life, offering audiences a vivid glimpse into the region's rich history and cultural heritage through light and shadow.

"However, in our current fast-paced life, the traditional art is facing the risk of being forgotten, especially among young people," she said. "When I began to prepare for a college student innovation competition in October 2022, I came up with an idea to combine traditional shadow puppets with modern technology, creating a new way of presentation to allow more people to experience its charm."