Li Guisheng – Inheritor of Shadow Play Performance and Puppetry-making Craft in Yimen County, Yuxi 

Personal Background

Birth and Origin
Born in 1928 in Erjie Shangcun Village, Dajie Town (大街镇), Yimen County (易门县), Yuxi City (玉溪市), Yunnan Province (云南省), of Han ethnicity.

Artistic Lineage
In 1943, his father, Li Fa (李发), a shadow puppetry artist, began teaching him shadow puppetry performance and craftsmanship.
After mastering the skills, Li Guisheng produced a wide array of shadow puppets, including ancient male armor, robes, female armor, and animal figures for use in traditional plays.

Achievements in Shadow Puppetry

Shadow Puppet Production
He crafted puppets for classic performances such as Investiture of the Gods (《封神演义》), Loyal Yue Fei (《精忠说岳》), The Powdered Tower (《粉妆楼》), The Tale of the Python (《蟒蛇记》), Golden Bell Chronicle (《金铃记》), and Parrot Chronicle (《鹦历记》).
Each puppet set typically includes about 30 pieces of male armor, 4-5 pieces of female armor, various robes, and animal props, all made with exquisite craftsmanship.

Performance and Transmission
After China’s reform and opening-up period, shadow puppetry in Yimen (易门) began to revive. Li Guisheng took on two apprentices—one specializing in performance and the other in puppet-making.
His performances integrate Dian opera (滇剧) vocal styles and folk tunes, showcasing distinctive local characteristics.

Social Influence and Intangible Heritage Preservation

Li Guisheng (李桂生) was among the first officially recognized inheritors of Yunnan Province’s (云南省) intangible cultural heritage in shadow puppetry, playing a crucial role in reviving the Yimen shadow puppetry tradition.
His skills not only preserved traditional carving and performance techniques but also contributed to the continuation of local folk culture.

Related Background

Yimen Shadow Puppetry

The shadow puppetry tradition in Yimen (易门县) began during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (清乾隆年间), introduced by shadow puppetry artists from Guangdong (广东).
Its performance styles include:

  • “Bitter Vegetable Tune” (苦蔬调): melancholic and lyrical
  • Dian opera singing (滇剧唱腔): operatic style
  • “Bee Swarm” (一窝蜂): storytelling with rhythm and chant

Other Shadow Puppetry Artists

In Tongchang Township (铜厂乡), Yimen County (易门县), Wang Wenyue (王文跃), aged 67, is another important shadow puppetry inheritor skilled in making and performing with cowhide puppets.

Yimen’s shadow puppetry culture flourished since the late Qianlong 19th year after a major earthquake. Artists from Guangdong brought the art to the region, where it took root and developed.
It was once widely practiced in areas such as Fangtun (方屯), Xiaojie (小街), Tongchang (铜厂), Pubei (浦贝), and Shijie (十街), with hundreds of different plays. Locally, the art is also called:

  • “Leather Figure Show” (皮人戏)
  • “Lamp Shadow” (灯影): named for the oil-lamp projection of figures onto white cloth
  • “Wish Play” (愿戏): where performances were believed to move the gods, drive away evil, and bring good harvests and weather

Features of Shadow Puppet Making and Performance

Exquisite Craftsmanship
Li Guisheng’s puppets are meticulously made, with strict quality control from material selection to carving. He mainly uses cowhide or donkey hide, which undergo multiple steps such as soaking, shaving, polishing, carving, and coloring. The resulting puppets are vivid and brightly colored.

Rich Performance Content
His performances include both traditional myths and modern stories reflecting local life. Through simple puppets, he can present complex plots with vivid expressiveness.

Fusion of Tradition and Modernity
While preserving traditional puppet art, Li Guisheng also innovates by integrating modern elements. For example, he adds modern music and lighting effects in plays with contemporary themes to appeal to today’s audiences.

Social and Cultural Impact

Li Guisheng not only makes and performs shadow puppetry but also actively trains the next generation. He has hosted workshops and training sessions to pass on traditional skills to young people, contributing greatly to the art’s continuity.
He also actively participates in local cultural and tourism events, using shadow puppetry performances to attract visitors and promote local cultural development.

Related Background

Yimen County (易门县) has a long-standing shadow puppetry tradition. Historical records trace its origin to the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (清乾隆年间), when artists from Guangdong (广东) introduced the art. Over time, it developed into a unique local cultural form.
Today, shadow puppetry is still widely practiced and cherished in Yimen, forming an integral part of its cultural identity.
As a modern torchbearer of the art, Li Guisheng has inherited traditional techniques while also innovating and revitalizing the craft for contemporary audiences.

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