万历Wànlì：1573.9.4－1620.8.18，是明神宗朱翊钧的年号。Wanli refers to the title of Emperor Shenzong’s reign of Ming Dynasty which is from Sep. 4th, 1573 to Aug. 18th, 1620.
Nanxin Village Puppet Play(南辛庄木偶戏Nánxīn Zhuāng mù’ǒuxì) in Hejian City(河间市Héjìan Shì) of Cangzhou(沧州Cāngzhōu), also called “Pushing Play”(“推戏”tuīxì) and “Elbow Play”(“肘戏”zhǒuxì), is a rare opera in Hebei(河北Héběi). It was carried to Nanxin Village from Guo Village(郭村Guō Cūn) in Xijiiuji County(西九吉乡Xījiǔjí Xiāng) in the 29th year(1601) of Wanli(万历Wànlì) in the Ming Dynasty(明朝Míngcháo).
From the beginning to the end, the instruments (siqin, drum) of the puppet play are the same as those of the clapper opera. And the first mode, second mode, third mode and duo mode are used. There are little figures, little horses even little swords and spears in the puppet play. The true person sings as the puppet performs. And the puppet is controlled by the true person. However, the singing face must accord with the puppet’s expression and her happiness, anger and sadness, which to let the puppet express the feelings of a true person. Furthermore, the stage walk must be as same as the true person does. This requires the wirepullers to have certain skills to reach the result of mixing the false with the true.
Nanxin Village Puppet Play totally has fifteen plays including eight clapper opera(梆子bāngzi) and seven silk string opera(丝弦sīxián). The eight clapper opera are A Iron Shaft with a Flag(铁幡杆tiěfāngān), Tong Pass(潼关tóngguān), Golden Ball(金球jīnqiú), the Third Sister Wang Borrows Foods(王三姐借粮Wángsānjiě jiè liáng), the Mystical Excursion(游山yóu shān), Travel to North(北游běiyóu), Beautiful Phoenix Building(美凤楼měifènglóu) and Drifting in Rivers(混江河hùnjiānghé). And the seven silk string operas are Pilgrimage to the West(西游记xīyóujì), Shoes with Phoenixes on(鸾凤鞋luánfèngxié), Huilong Pavilion(回龙阁huílónggé), the Story of the Reed Catkins(芦花记lúhuājì) and Jiepai Pass(界牌关jièpáiguān) etc. There are more than thirty different puppets (about one chi high) of sheng(生shēng), dan(旦dàn), jing(净jìng), chou(丑chǒu) in the civil and military division. Everything, such as the sword, gun, spear, halberd, axe, hook, fold, garment painted with dragons and snakes, phoenix coronet and embroidered tussled cape needed is there.
After 1949, Nanxin Village Puppet Play was rejuvenated due to the local entertainers Jin Hanxi(金涵熙Jīn Hànxī) and Wang Guangliang(王光亮Wáng Guāngliàng). In 1956, it was performed in Beijing and achieved good results.
