The History of Shehuo

社火的历史

Coming from the sacrifices of primitive¹ Society, Shehuo has a historyof more than 5000 years. During the Dynasty of Shang and Zhou, specific ceremony was held by the royal court for driving devil² away. Gradually, thus ceremony was introduced to civilian³ and shade into performance at temple fair to celebrate Chinese new year, to pray for rain, and to fete the god. The players made up like wearing a mask on the face. Audiences identified every individual mask to recognize what role the player acted. Afterward⁴, people used the woody ladle painted with She Huo Mask to feed horses and cattle to prevent murrain, or hung the ladle-shape mask on the wall in their house to impetrate safety，harmony，and happiness.

社火始于原始社会的牺牲，有超过5000年的历史。在商周的时期，特定的仪式由王室举行驱邪。渐渐地，这样的仪式被引入到民间和渐渐成为庙会庆祝中国新年、祈求下雨、和宴请神的活动。表演者脸上像戴了面具。观众确认每个人的面具扮演的是什么角色。后来，人们用带有社火标志的木质喂养马和牛，以防止瘟疫，或把它挂在家里的墙上祈求获得安全、和谐和幸福。