Puppeteers’ skillful manipulation can breathe life into glove puppets on the stage with a perfect match between puppet movements and music. To promote the tradition glove puppetry and explore ways to enhance the modernity of intangible cultural heritage, the CFLC “Adroitness” Summer Social Practice Group recently carried out field research and interviews in Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and Xiamen.

The “Adroitness” Social Practice Group

On June 21, the group headed to Quanzhou. In Jinjiang, they interviewed Yan Sarong, a national-level “inheritor” of glove puppetry, and they were deeply touched by her passion for this tradition form of art. Few women perform glove puppetry as it requires both physical strength and singing skills. When she was young, Ms. Yan was one of the greatest female performers of the southern style of glove puppetry. She played a significant role in developing the integrity of character shaping and the application of water sleeves.  

On June 23, the group interviewed Director Lu of the China Museum for Fujian-Taiwan Kinship, learning more about the historical evolution and spread influence of glove puppetry. Immensely popular in southern Fujian and Taiwan, glove puppetry embodies the close geographical, consanguine, commercial and cultural relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

 The trip to Quanzhou, the birthplace of glove puppetry, allowed the CFLC social practice group to explore the past and present of this unique form of art from the perspective of spectators and tourists. At the same time, the group explored ways for glove puppetry to break free of geographic limits and showcase its charms in a new, modern fashion.  

A member of the social practice team interviews Ms. Yan Sarong

On June 28, the social practice group arrived in Zhangzhou, where they appreciated the profound historical legacy of glove puppetry. They interviewed Mr. Xu Zhuchu, a descendant of a renowned puppetry family, at the Zhuchu Puppetry Art Museum. From the stories of several generations of the Xu family, the CFLC students came to recognize that it was not easy to carry forward traditional culture. They expressed admiration for the artists’ relentless pursuit of excellence. The field trips allowed the group to see the importance and urgency of protecting traditional skills in the contemporary era.  

 As the last stop of their Zhangzhou trip, the group came to the Zhangzhou Puppet Theatre Troupe. Through interviews with the troupe staff, they learned that the local government had given strong support to the troupe and enacted related policies for the preservation of glove puppetry. They realized that the declining number of performers of glove puppetry had become a growing problem that couldn’t be ignored.  

Members of the group listen attentively as Mr. Xu Zhuchu explains the technique of carving puppet heads

Back on campus, they joined hands with the “Western Spread of Eastern Culture” Social Practice Group to stage a demonstration of glove puppetry for international students. The demonstration, which was based on Chinese classical epic “Journey to the West”, captivated the international students. The group was glad that they had the opportunity to contribute to the international promotion of traditional Chinese culture and to “tell the stories of China to the world”.

A student presents a demonstration of glove puppetry.

The social practice group poses for a photo with the international students

Despite the fact that glove puppetry is still quite popular today, it is facing many challenges such as the changing tastes of the audience, fast-paced urban lifestyle and invasion of electronic entertainment. Going forward, the group is determined to take advantage of their language skills to contribute to the safeguarding of glove puppetry as part of China’s intangible cultural heritage.