亚洲皮影戏起源地探析

The Origin of Asian Shadow Theatre

学术界较一致地认为皮影戏起源于亚洲。多数学者认可皮影戏的源头并不是单一的,皮影戏的产生形成了多种说法。目前尚未有明确证据证明皮影戏最早源于中亚,印度影戏的存在时间应早于中国和中亚影戏。在东南亚地区,影戏受印度文化影响深远。中国皮影戏的诞生在题材上与印度的佛教相关,影戏技法也有可能受印度演艺形式影响,其中包括印度的弄影术。从文献记载的时间、表演形式、传播影响等方面综合比较分析,可知亚洲皮影戏最早起源于印度。

Scholars have reached a consensus that shadow theatre originated in Asia and various theories have been proposed regarding its uncertain country of origin.Currently,there is no clear evidence identifying Central Asia as the possible birthplace.Indian shadow theatre has a longer history than that of China and Central Asia.In Southeast Asia,Indian culture has greatly infuenced the Chinese shadow theatre.Indian Buddhism has been a major source of inspiration,and Indian performance techniques,such as Indian shadow theatre have also impacted Chinese actors.This paper analyzes the historical timeline,performance forms,communication and influence,ultimately concluding that Asian shadow theatre originated in India.