Shadow puppetry, as one of the oldest opera genres in China, has a history of more than 2,000 years. It is based on a piece of cloth, a lamp, a shadow figure and a singing voice, but it can mobilize thousands of troops and horses to interpret all things of the people. Wang Yuansheng of the Wang family founded Wang Shadow Puppet more than 350 years ago, and later transformed and innovated by Wang Wenkun, integrating the advantages of shadow puppetry such as "soil", "Guang" and "Wei", absorbing the essence of the skills of "carving", "cutting", "painting" and "carving", and integrating the interest of northern Sichuan customs and folk customs. Today, Wang Shadow Puppet has been passed down to Wang Biao, the seventh generation of national intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor.
The production process of Wang Shadow Puppet can be described as very cumbersome, including a full 32 indispensable processes. Different from the shadow puppets of Shaanxi and Tangshan, the figures of the shadow puppets of the king of northern Sichuan are more round and full, and they are relatively close to the appearance of modern people, which also makes them unique among the shadow puppets in China. In addition, Wang Shadow Puppet also integrates two traditional carving methods, which can not only move the knife without moving, but also move the knife without moving the skin.
For Wang Biao, shadow puppetry is an art that can bring people joy and sorrow. It requires actors to be able to dress up as various characters, integrate themselves into them, and achieve the realm of "pretending to be like whom, like me and not me". Wang Biao's life has experienced many ups and downs, from going out to work, occasionally regaining shadow puppetry, and then to meeting Zhao Shutong, a famous collector in Sichuan, so that shadow puppetry can be "lived". Eventually, he gave up his well-known career in Chengdu and returned to his hometown of Langzhong to found the "Sichuan North Sichuan Shadow Puppet Art Troupe", dedicated to spreading the charm of shadow puppetry. The joys, sorrows, and sorrows of these experiences are all related to shadow puppetry.
Shadow puppetry showcases the treasures of ancient Chinese culture and bears witness to the enthusiasm and concerted efforts of generations. It is not only an art form, but also an important part of traditional Chinese culture. Through the inheritance and development of Wang shadow puppetry, we can better understand and promote folk art, so that more people can feel the unique cultural charm.