Shadow plays are a traditional folk art, the origin of which can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD).

With puppets made out of cow's leather or donkey hide, the shadow play figures of the Guanzhong area of Shaanxi Province are modeled on the stone relief patterns of the Han Dynasty, the academic-style painting of the Song Dynasty and folk paper-cuts. Guanzhong shadow play figures are popular with collectors and as home decorations.