Celebrating the Autumn Full Moon

Last Friday, Mr. Yu introduced the school to the Autumn Moon Festival with a puppet play called “Chang’e Flew to the Moon.” Shadow puppetry in Chinese culture is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat, articulated, cut-out figures (shadow puppets) held by puppeteers between a translucent scrim or screen and a light source.

The history of shadow puppet performances during the Mid-Autumn Festival can be traced back to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty who made shadow puppets in memory of his beloved concubine. The art of shadow puppets is symbolic of working with the inner light while the Summer light is fading into Autumn, to defeat shadows and death, and appreciate and value the meaning of life. The story of "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" is told every Mid-Autumn Festival. The night of the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions and celebrations with wishes of perfect peace shared across the world.

The puppet play was performed for kindergarten and the grades by Mr. Yu, his assistant, Huang zhigian,  Ms. Bible, and a number of eighth grade students. Many thanks to Mr. Freeburg for making the equipment. It was a uniquely special performance. See photos and videos from the performance here.