With a long history in China, shadow puppets were introduced to many countries during the Yang Dynasty, attracting many foreign audiences. They call the art form Chinese shadow play.
皮影戏，又称“影子戏”，“灯影戏”，是一种用灯光照射兽皮或纸板做成的人物剪影，在音乐的伴奏中，由艺人一边操纵剪影一边演唱的民间戏剧形式。
Shadow puppet plays, also known as shadow play or lamp shadow play, is a folk opera form of cutting beast skin or hard paper board into articulated figures and performing in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images. Accompanied by music, performers manipulate the figures and sing.
皮影戏在我国历史悠久，元代时还曾传到世界上很多国家，迷倒了不少国外戏迷，被人们亲切地称为“中国影灯”。
