For instance, a boy or a girl riding on a "horse" stays in the center, while the others on the plate run around him or her, just like soldiers running around their general. Nowadays, Xinzi is more stationed on trucks or tractors. While the audience worries about the dangerous gestures and positions of the little girls and boys, the young performers seem to be very relaxed and carefree, forming an amazing scene. The secret lies in the various shapes of hidden "wick" made of steel, which are used to fix the performers.
Adult men, who are usually dressed up as traditional play figures, perform stilts. They usually use the "willow wood legs" longer than five feet, making their performance very thrilling and exciting. What's more amazing is the stilt dance done by some performers.
If a performer stands on a desk carried by others, the scene has another name called "carrying desks". Usually each desk represents a scene of the play; when some desks are linked together, a play has been performed to the audience. Also, the performer on each desk will change their costume to present another part of the play. "Carrying desks" is not only played at the daytime, but also in the evenings under lamps or torches, giving the audience a diverse taste.
Horse Ladle Facial Make-ups in Shehuo
With a history of more than 1,500 years, the horse ladle facial make-ups are a folk art form mainly prevailing in the Central Shaanxi Plain. The horse ladle facial make-ups are not only used in the Shehuo celebrations, but also regarded as refined handicrafts favored by collectors.
Just as the name suggests, horse ladles are used to feed horses in these areas. The round ladles are used to hold water, while the rectangular ones are to hold grain. The patterns painted on the ladles are ways of praying for the livestock's safety and health, thus ensuring people a happy and harmonious life. People in the past used to hang the painted ladles in their houses to drive away the evil spirits, and to avoid sterility and other accidents. The tradition and influence left over from the Shang and Zhou dynasties (About 1600-221BC) can still be perceived from these painted ladles.
Shehuo, horse ladles and facial make-ups are three different folk art forms naturally developed through history. The horse ladle facial make-ups used in Shehuo is a precious art form, demonstrating the unique artistic glamour of West China.
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