The Traditional Function And The Present Difficulty Of Shadow Play In Dongkou, Yongxing

Yongxing Dongkou Shadow Play is distributed mainly in the neighboring villagesand towns with Dongkou County as the center, which is a branch of Hengyang Yugushadow play, Zhongnan Shadow Play. It is a kind of folk drama that villages performon the birthdays of the main Gods in the temple when they make or redeem vows togods. It is also a kind of folk art with unique local color and culture characteristicsthat combines holiness and secularity into one.Most researches on Shadow Playfocused on those in the area of Luanzhou but fewer in Hunan Province, of which thethe perspective of folklore is still in the early stage. In this article, Yongxing DongkouShadow Play is divided into two periods. With the methodology of Folklore fieldwork,this research aims to analyze the function and dilemma of Shadow Play based on itsscript and performance.The research can be divided into five parts. The first part defines the inheritancecircle of Shadow Play and gives a brief introduction to the performance of it, whichoffers an overall cognition of Dongkou Shadow Play. The second part is mainly aboutthe holy function of Shadow Play in traditional period. In order to state the pointclearly, the author discussed the performers,audience and related context of theperformance of the Shadow Play. What’s more, this part emphasize on the theperformers’ particular identities, settled performing rituals, script and some relevantmystery customs and taboos as well as its recreational function. The third partanalyzes the secular function of Shadow Play in Dongkou. Shadow Play has its ownsecular characteristics, so is the identity of its performers and performance.Meanwhile, the recreational and educational function reflected in script andperformance of Shadow Play not only reveals its Folkloristic value but also accountsfor its flourishing development among the target audience. The fourth part presentsthat in the modern context the two functions mentioned above is disappearinggradually, leading to the grim situation of inheritance.Due to the alternativeentertainment means and weakening beliefs, the secular function gradually weaken, oreven missing. Shadow Play as non-material cultural heritage is facing the trend ofextinction. The last part proposed some suggestions for protection with the basis ofthe reflection on the present situation of Shadow Play. Shadow Play is not only a kindof folk drama but also the carrier of tradition with artistic and literary value, whichneeds inheriting by the public.