Langzhong (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
Sichuan was inundated with heavy rain during the summer of 2018, causing flash floods in many areas.
Engraving shadow puppet (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
Two brothers, Wang Biao and Wang Fang, are the 7th generation to run the northern Sichuan shadow puppetry school known as “The Wang School”. On July 11, they packed their shadow puppets into wooden and cardboard boxes as soon as they received the flood warning, and took turns to monitor the water level.
Langzhong (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
The river continued to rise. The morning of July 12, the Wang families decided to begin moving more than 30,000 items of shadow puppets from their usual teaching site to the Wang’s Shadow Museum further inland.
Wang School of Shadow Puppet Theater (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
However, the ancient city of Langzhong has no roads for motor vehicles, since most of them are for pedestrians. The families could only use the slow-moving electric vehicles designed to ferry tourists around to transport their assets. More than 10,000 items were safely transferred to the museum before 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Nevertheless, the river’s water level suddenly began to rise again, so much so that by 2 o’clock the streets along the riverside in Langzhong were underwater.
Langzhong (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
The Wang brothers, inheritors of some of the world's important intangible cultural heritage, had their hearts in their mouths as the water level crept towards the flood warning line at the Huaguang Tower Pier. “During the last serious flood in the ancient city of Langzhong, the water only reached the first two steps of our teaching site. We never thought this time would be worse."
The electric vehicles were rendered useless as the floodwater continued unabated. Wang Biao then borrowed a truck from a construction site and removed several large boxes of shadow puppets. By the time the family had moved 24,000 items, the floodwater was already knee-deep.
Large-size shadow puppet (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
The flood was not only severe, it was also very fast and caused big waves on the river. Within 30 minutes, the floodwater had entered the building and was almost 2 feet deep. Worse still, the water was over 5 feet deep in the area the shadow puppets had to be carried through. Although some of the salvage crew who were good swimmers wanted to continue the transfer, the police insisted on evacuating to protect lives.
Wang Biao and his family also wanted to salvage the remaining shadow puppets that were beyond the warning line, but were stopped by police officers and neighbors. “Mr. Wang, the flood level is too high! Your building is right next to the river, and the water must be even deeper there. Better safe than sorry!”
老剧本 (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
In the end, eight cardboard boxes, two sound systems, and a number of cowhides were left behind, remaining underwater until July 13.
Shadow puppets immersed in water (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
By that afternoon, the floodwater that had laid siege to the ancient city began to recede. The Wang brothers immediately returned to the site to find the floors covered in mud.
Shadow puppets immersed in water (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
Shadow puppets are made of cowhide and are therefore very vulnerable to water and fire. Although cowhide normally needs to be soaked in water before it can be used to make shadow puppets, this process takes no more than half an hour.
Salvaging shadow puppets from the flood (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
This time, the shadow puppets were underwater for 30 hours. By then, some were like jelly and it was impossible to save them. The cowhide of the shadow puppets that could be saved had been contaminated by dyes, rendering them almost useless.
Shadow puppets immersed in water (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
When Wang Biao’s mother saw the shadow puppets lifted from the muddy water, she could only turn away and weep.
Salvaging damaged shadow puppets (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
To salvage the shadow puppets that had been underwater, Wang Biao bought 20 pieces of laminate that were around 8 feet long and 4 feet wide.
Salvaging damaged shadow puppets (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
He laid the puppets on the laminates to dry them in the sunlight before pressing them. Until the afternoon of July 18, some shadow puppets hadn’t dried out yet.
Shadow puppets immersed in water (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
During this flood, over 2,000 large shadow puppets (2.6 feet tall), over 2,000 medium-sized puppets (1.6–1.9 feet tall), and over 2,000 pieces of headgear were flooded.
Engraving shadow puppet (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
It takes seven days to finish a piece of headgear, from selecting the leather to engraving and dyeing it. In the case of a large, 2.6-foot shadow puppet, a skilled worker can only finish three pieces a month. Depending on the plotline, a full shadow play will need between three and five characters at least, and can involve more than a dozen characters in some cases.
Salvaging damaged shadow puppets (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
After being soaked in water, almost all of thees shadow puppets were declared lost as a result of the cowhide being damaged and contaminated by dyes. The direct financial loss was estimated at 6 million renminbi (around $840,000), not to mention their artistic value, which was incalculable.
Wang Wenkun (2011) by Li TiansheWang's Shadow Museum
In addition to the shadow puppets, more than 4,500 Chinese paper cuttings were also lost, because they could not be transferred in time. What saddened the Wang brothers most was the fact that over 100 paper cuttings bequeathed to them by their grandfather, Wang Wenkun, were also damaged beyond repair by the flood.
Wang School of Shadow Puppet MuseumWang's Shadow Museum
The shadow puppets that were salvaged after air-drying will be stored in the museum and repaired. Part of the collection will then be put on display to help remember the grief caused by the damage to these shadow puppets.
Shadow puppets immersed in water (2018)Wang's Shadow Museum
The flood happened more than a year ago, and yet Wang Biao is still full of regret and guilt whenever it is mentioned. Sighing, he says, “We must never overlook the importance of protecting our antiquities. We must never take them for granted.” Cultural assets are incredibly vulnerable in the face of natural disasters. Only by ensuring they are adequately protected and digitized will it be possible to pass our cultural heritage on to future generations.
