{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Words: Aimee-lee Abraham | Illustrations: Rohan Eason","standfirst":"Telling tales by torchlight is a pastime Scouts have always enjoyed. Here, we explore the ancient art of shadow puppetry, and share some shapes to recreate on your next camp","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3289/rats_rats_rats.jpg","width":4466,"height":5851,"altText":"Scouts making shadow puppets","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ECreated by shining a light into darkness, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://wepa.unima.org/en/shadow-theatre/\u0022\u003Eshadow puppetry\u003C/a\u003E is one of the oldest forms of storytelling in the world. \u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAt their most elaborate, puppets are constructed in separate pieces that are then put together, using strings or wires that can be manipulated to create the illusion of movement behind a lit screen. But they can also be made using your hands, a blank canvas to project your shadow onto (such as a wall) and a simple light source. Torches work best, but the glow from a smartphone will do. With a little imagination, even the stuffy interior of a tent can become a cinema screen.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe first shadow puppets\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAccording to the popular \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-history-of-chinese-shadow-art/pAVxjXX69TPSWQ?hl=en\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022The History of Chinese Shadow Art\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?hl=en\u0022\u003EChinese legend\u003C/a\u003E, the first handheld shadow puppets were developed during the rule of Emperor Han Wudi of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.ancient.eu/Han_Dynasty/\u0022\u003EHan Dynasty\u003C/a\u003E (202 BC\u2013AD 220).\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe origin story begins with the death of the emperor\u2019s lover, Lady Li. Desperate to maintain power, aides scrambled to save the ruler from the depths of his grief but nothing worked. Until one day, when a trusty advisor saw some children playing with parasols under the midday sun.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EInspired by the vibrant shadows their movements cast across the courtyard, he cut a figure resembling Lady Li from some fabric, and projected her ghostly shadow onto some curtains.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EOvercome by the shadow\u2019s likeness, the emperor\u2019s spirits began to lift and, slowly but surely, his health was restored. He ruled for a further 54 years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMeanwhile, shadow puppets took off, spreading first to rural China where they became popular among farmers keen to entertain one another during the off season, then further afield.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAround the world\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EToday, the stories narrated using shadow puppets vary from country to country. In \u003Ca href=\u0022https://wepa.unima.org/en/indonesia/\u0022\u003EIndonesia\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.sfu.ca/archaeology/museum/exhibits/past-exhibits/wayang-kulit.html\u0022\u003Ewayang kulit\u003C/a\u003E \u2013 an epic form of shadow play, which can be traced back to the spread of Hinduism in the medieval era \u2013 remains part of native culture, with its timeless fables of good vs. evil captivating tourists and locals alike.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https://wepa.unima.org/en/turkey/\u0022\u003ETurkey\u003C/a\u003E, the tales of \u003Ca href=\u0022https://wepa.unima.org/en/karagoz/\u0022\u003EKarag\u00F6z and Hacivat\u003C/a\u003E \u2013 a duo representing the conflict between the working masses and the elite \u2013 still hold a place in public life thousands of years after they were first shared \u2013 acting as an outlet to express political opinion, and poke fun at the elements of life that are often overlooked and oversimplified.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/history-of-puppetry-in-britain/\u0022\u003EBritain\u003C/a\u003E, the puppet shows which once dominated Victorian theatres and homes are now few and far between. But, in tents across the county, there is a flickering glimmer of the past. Whether they know it or not, Scouts play a small part in \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ekeeping this tradition alive, every time they turn on their torches.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPut on a show\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWhy not have a read of these animal facts with your young people, then create some shadow puppets of your very own? It\u2019s easy! We promise.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3284/cow.jpg","width":976,"height":1348,"altText":"Shadow puppet of a cow","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECow (Bos taurus)\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EJust as no two humans have the same fingerprint, no two Fresian cows (the most common black and white variety) have exactly the same pattern of spots.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ECows have an excellent sense of smell and can detect odours up to six miles away.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe average cow chews around 50 times per minute. That\u2019s 72,000 chews per day!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3285/dog.jpg","width":1007,"height":1368,"altText":"Shadow puppet of a dog","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDog (Canis lupus familiaris)\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EDogs\u2019 eyes contain a special membrane that allows them to see in the dark. This is why their eyes sometimes appear to glow at night.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EDogs sleep curled up in a ball because, in the wild, this helped them to keep warm and protect their vital organs from predators.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThree dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic \u2013 two Pomeranians and a Pekingese.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3286/goat.jpg","width":957,"height":1368,"altText":"Shadow puppet of a goat","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGoat (Capra aegagrus hircus)\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA baby goat is called a \u2018kid\u2019. When a goat gives birth, it\u2019s known as \u2018kidding\u2019.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EGoats have rectangular pupils, giving them a fuller range of vision that humans and other animals.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAbraham Lincoln kept two goats during his time as President: Nanny and Nanko. They were beloved by his son, who used them for chariot rides around the White House.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3287/pig.jpg","width":1099,"height":1358,"altText":"Shadow puppet of a pig","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPig (Sus scrofa scrofa)\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EExtraordinarily intelligent, pigs are widely accepted as being smarter than dogs, some primates, and even young children.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWild pigs play an important role in managing ecosystems. Disturbing the soil creates areas for new plants, and they disperse fruit seeds.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA pig\u2019s squeal can be as loud as 115 decibels \u2013 three decibels higher than a supersonic jet.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3288/rabbit.jpg","width":928,"height":1360,"altText":"Shadow puppet of a rabbit","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EToday we classify the rabbit as a small mammal. Until 1912, it was known as a rodent. Rabbits\u2019 teeth never stop growing, but are naturally kept short through the wear and tear of chewing. Wild rabbits live in warrens. These underground tunnels are often large and complex. One warren in Europe housed 450 rabbits and had 2,000 entrances.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3290/roosterjpeg.jpg","width":1073,"height":1179,"altText":"Shadow puppet of a rooster","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERooster (Gallus gallus)\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EChickens are the closest living relative of the T. rex, but notably less scary.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EChickens use more than 24 noises to communicate. \u2018Kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh-KACK!\u2019, for example, roughly translates as \u2018I sense danger.\u2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EChickens display object permanence \u2013 an understanding that when an object is hidden, it still exists. Young children don\u2019t have this ability.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"17 September 2019","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":40249,"nodeName":"Try shadow puppetry with your Scouts","title":"Try shadow puppetry with your Scouts","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/3289/rats_rats_rats.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd30a47e40","caption":"Rats Rats Rats","type":"jpg","size":8174512,"width":4466,"height":5851,"altText":"A group of Scouts are using their hands to cast shadows onto the wall in front of them. Together, they\u0027re performing in a shadow puppet show."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Try shadow puppetry with your Scouts","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80MDI0OSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2019/september/try-shadow-puppetry-with-your-scouts/"}