Taiwan's 'Hometown of Glove Puppetry' Launches Academy to Preserve Art Form

Yunlin County, widely recognized as the "hometown of glove puppetry" (Budaixi), has launched its inaugural "Glove Puppetry Apprenticeship Academy" to establish a systematic talent cultivation program for this traditional art form. The county government organized the academy, inviting numerous veteran artists to impart their knowledge and skills. After completing 60 hours of intensive training, 13 students graduated and presented their achievements in a showcase event on July 4th.

Huang Wen-chang, chairman of Pili International Multimedia, expressed his gratification at seeing young students participate, noting the art form's past struggle with a lack of new blood. The graduation ceremony was presided over by Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan and attended by prominent figures including Huang Wen-chang, Legislator Chang Chia-chun, and Xie Ming-xuan, Director of the County Cultural Affairs Department, along with several master puppeteers. The graduating students performed pieces such as "Lord of Heaven Subdues the Tortoise and Snake" and "The Divine Judgment."

Xie Ming-xuan highlighted that glove puppetry is a representative cultural brand of Yunlin. The academy's core philosophy centers on "official inheritance and systematic cultivation," with curriculum covering puppet manipulation, voice acting, traditional music accompaniment, and script analysis. The 60-hour course, which began in late February, featured veteran artists like Lin Cheng-hsing, Chung Jen-liang, Lee Ching-yeh, and Chen Wen-che, who shared their extensive stage experience and creative spirit.

Among the 13 young participants is Lin Kai-hsiang, a third-generation member of the Shengping Wuzhou Garden troupe. He expressed his desire to learn about the characteristics of different puppetry schools through the academy, particularly noting the valuable insights gained from Chung Jen-liang's lessons on vocal delivery nuances. Chen Kuo-pin, a disciple of the Hsin Hsing Ko Hand Shadow Play Troupe, observed the rhythmic coordination between character appearances and music in the Wuzhou school and appreciated how the curriculum showcased the beauty of Taiwanese Hokkien through voice acting. He likened the academy to the "Martial Arts School" (Jing Wu Men), embracing diverse styles to foster a more inclusive continuation of glove puppetry.

Huang Wen-chang reiterated that the primary reason for the crisis facing glove puppetry's inheritance is the lack of youth engagement. He found the willingness of these 13 young apprentices to join deeply encouraging. Chung Jen-liang added that the students' high level of attention and diligent note-taking during classes made him feel that the "inheritance crisis has been saved." He stressed that the long-term survival of puppetry culture requires public support.

Magistrate Chang Li-shan pointed out that the county government has been promoting glove puppetry initiatives for 15 years, with one-third of its primary and secondary schools involved, nurturing over 20,000 students. The establishment of the Apprenticeship Academy aims to build a more comprehensive system for discovering and developing outstanding puppetry talent in the future.