Puppets Tell Tales of Old: Unique Man-and-pupppet Show in Lingao
Wang's workshop has no title but enjoy wide popularity among local people. The
workshop now has 16 members, with 8 performers. All of them did not receive
professional training; they were taught by their elders through oral
transmission. But every year they stage more than 200 performances, even more
than the professional county troupe does.
Soon after this year's spring came, Wang's workshop went to Nandou Village to
perform. The village, 30 kilometers away from the county town, has no access to
vehicles and electricity. But the puppet show thrives here. Wang's workshop
performed from the second to the sixth day of the first lunar month, charging
RMB 500 for each show.
The performance started at 9:30
pm. The stage faced the ancestral altar of villagers. The altar was very simple,
made of only several wood boards and a piece of plastic cloth. But the
atmosphere was solemn and sacred: a huge clay sculpture stood in the middle with
guards on his each side and incense burners and offerings were placed in front
of it. Before the performance began, villagers offered incense, knelt down
before the altar and prayed for blessings. When the music sounded, the
man-and-puppet show opened.
 History of the Man-and-puppet Show
Whenever there is a holiday or a joyous event, the man-and-puppet show will
be played as a celebration. The man-and-puppet show has become part of life of
Lingao people.
Lingao man-and-puppet show was first created to pray for peace. It is said
that a plague hit a village in the Southern Song Dynasty. In praying for god
blessings, villagers said, "Do not hurt our children any more. We can play a
show for you day and night." Villagers then carved pineapples into various types
of Buddha and held them with wood sticks. Thus the early man-and-puppet show
came into being.
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