Puppet show

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: puppet show

Applicant: Meizhou City, Guangdong Province

Item No.: 236

Project No.: Ⅳ - 92

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Meizhou City, Guangdong Province

Protection unit: Wuhua County puppet Institute

Introduction to puppet show (Wuhua marionette)

Applicant: Meizhou City, Guangdong Province

The puppet opera of Wuhua County, Meizhou City, Guangdong Province has a long history. It was introduced from Fujian in the early Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 600 years. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the performance of Wuhua puppet show was very prosperous. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were more than 20 puppet troupes in Wuhua County with excellent skills and active performances. After 1930, the Puppet Troupe in Wuhua County traveled to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries to perform. In 1951, Wuhua County Puppet Troupe was established. With it as the leader, a distribution network of puppet operas centered on southern, middle and Northern films was formed in the whole county. Wuhua Tixian puppet opera got further development in this period.

Wuhua thread puppet has fine modeling, tall shape, height of about 90 cm, and 14 to 20 lines to manipulate the puppet. Its singing music is mainly based on Han tunes, including Hakka folk songs, folk songs and tea picking tunes, while its dialogue is in Hakka or Putonghua. There are 106 puppet shows in Wuhua, which are very rich in content.

Wuhua puppet show is an important part of Hakka culture. It is close to life and the masses. Its performances are all over the villages of Wuhua, both inside and outside the province and in overseas areas. It is welcomed by the masses from all walks of life and overseas Chinese. It plays a role of contacting and uniting compatriots at home and abroad.