Amazing Chinese folk art

from www.56china.com





In the long history of China, the Chinese people have created countless arts along with making a living. These arts are the perfect combination of local arts and techniques. The inheritance and development of these arts and techniques has always been limited. Usually it was passed along among generations of family members, so the outsider will know little of the well-kept secrets. This film truthfully documented 58 artists of Chinese local arts and their various unique and wonderful performance, salvaging and unearthing these local arts in danger of extinction.



Paper Art
The first two forms of paper art began in the Han Dynasty with Chinese Paper Cutting and Chinese Paper Folding. These arts have expanded globally.







Puppetry
One of the oldest forms of folk art is puppetry. Puppeteers use various kinds of puppets, including marionettes, glove puppets, rod puppets, cloth puppets and wire puppets in performances incorporating folk songs and dances over some dialogues. The subject matter is derived mainly from children's stories and fables.









Shadow play
Chinese Shadow theatre is a form of puppetry that is performed by moving figures made of animal skins or cardboard held behind a screen lit by lamplight. The subject matter and singing style in shadow plays are closely related to Chinese opera, except without using live actors or actresses.
Chinese knot
Chinese knot is a decorative handicraft art that creates knot patterns. It is one of the more traditional art forms almost completely lost in the transition from Imperial to modern China