Fan Zheng'an--Sixth-generation descendant of Taishan Shadow Play

Fan Zheng'an is the sixth-generation descendant of Taishan shadow play. Taishan shadow play is the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage; it is an ancient Chinese opera which originated in the Ming Dynasty. Today it is still prevalent in Chinese folk which must be called Chinese folk art. According to historical records, shadow play has sung more than 400 years in Taishan.

The 63-year-old Fan Zheng'an is the sixth-generation descendant of Taishan shadow play. He contacted with shadow play at 8 years old. The famous performing artists Mr. Liu Yufeng became his teacher at 12 years old, teaching him to sing shadow play. Since then, he has been following his teacher to cross streets and show their skills, he forged an indelible part of love with shadow play and has been committed to the development, inheritance and promotion of Taishan shadow play.

Fan Zheng'an improved ways of performances of shadow play successfully, from the initial needs of 7 and 8 individuals showing at the same time, to a more conventional way of one accompanies while one performs which could sing through the whole play. When necessary, even one person can complete the whole scene performance. At the same time, a person can either accompany, operate, but also sing, this is the long lost art of shadow play industry---Shi Bu Xian. Today, Mr. Fan Zheng'an has already carried out this excavation and finishing re-mastered this technique.