I recently came across this article in the China Daily on the ongoing efforts to revitalize puppetry in China’s southeastern Fujian province. As someone who has been fascinated by puppetry from a very young age, I thought I would pass it on.

String and hand puppetry is one of the most recognized cultural traditions of Fujian. Closely linked to ritual and folk religion, the art form has undergone tremendous changes over the past century, from being dubbed “feudal rubbish” and virtually eradicated during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) to being listed in 2006 as Intangible Cultural Heritage on the National Register.

Fujian puppetry has a very rich cultural history dating back to the 10^th century, where it developed and spread outwards from the southern cities of Quanzhou and Zhangzhou. In the course of its history, it adapted a considerable amount of traditional plays and changqiang (arias, songs for Chinese opera) and developed specialized techniques of carving and performance. While hand puppetry was primarily used for entertainment, string puppetry was linked early on to religious ritual and celebrations. The twentieth century saw a decline in puppetry due to war and political unrest. Before the Cultural Revolution, many troops were disbanded or were required to perform government sponsored plays espousing political ideals and anti-Japanese propaganda.

The Cultural Revolution saw wholesale destruction, with puppets and equipment destroyed and performers sent to labour camps for political “reform.” Though the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution brought a slow revival, mainly in the countryside, Fujian puppetry has been largely on the decline due to economic and lifestyle changes and the disinterest of youth to learn a complicated, painstaking tradition.

I have had the opportunity to get acquainted with not only Fujian and other Chinese puppets but with many wonderful puppets and puppet collections around the world. These experiences reconfirm my belief that puppets constitute a precious part of humanity’s cultural heritage in an astonishing variety. It’s my hope that the current revitalization efforts will meet with success to help preserve and protect this endearing art form.