The History of Shehuo
社火的历史
Coming from the sacrifices of primitive 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 devil away. Gradually, thus ceremony was introduced to civilian 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. Afterward, 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。
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