Hong Jindiao, a young artist from Quanzhou Puppet Troupe, broke into a sweet smile when he recalled his journey to mastering Quanzhou marionettes. "At that time, there were vacancies in the marionette class, and it was still recruiting students. The school principal asked if I would like to join, and I said ‘Yes.' From then on, I have been studying it for 11 years,” Hong said.
Hong Jindiao plays with a Quanzhou marionette in front of his ancestral home. ©CGTN | Daken Art
Born in 1991, Hong was first introduced to puppets in his early childhood. His family has lived in the area for generations, and Hong witnessed many performances while he was still a little boy. He was most impressed by the “Pili” puppet show, where the performers wore glove puppets on their hands. He was amazed by the show's design, stunt and swordsmen.
Hong Jindiao with his grandfather in front of their ancestral home. ©CGTN | Daken Art
The vivid puppets and the powerful performances mesmerized the young Hong, and encouraged him to enroll in the Quanzhou Institute of Art, where he learned the ancient folk art.
“When I started learning how to make puppets, although they couldn't be used for performances, it felt like a big achievement once they were finished.”
The head of a new puppet hong created. ©CGTN | Daken Art
Hong took CGTN to the troupe dormitory where the marionettes were hanging. During the interview, he beamed with joy. In the past 11 years, he has not only practiced opera singing, but also learned how to make puppets, replace puppet strings and make the marionettes come alive on stage with strings in his hand.
His collection of marionettes in the dormitory. ©CGTN | Daken Art
Nicknamed the “City of Light” by Marco Polo, Quanzhou City is the birthplace of Minnan (southern Fujian) culture and the homeland of many overseas Chinese.
Since ancient times, the local people have lived by the ocean. The port bustles with fishermen casting their nets in the sea and businessmen engaging in maritime trade.
And marionettes, which have been popular for a thousand years in Quanzhou, have become an indispensable part of the culture – bidding for China's first national intangible cultural heritage site.
Quanzhou City. ©CGTN | Daken Art
According to Hong, the marionette originated during the Qin and Han Dynasties, some 2,200 years ago. It was called “Xuan Si Puppet (string-suspended puppet)” and used as grave goods for aristocrats. During the reign of Emperor Hanwen from 180 to 157 B.C., the puppets made by Yuefu were used in palace performances, welcome parties and exorcisms.
Because of the wars at the beginning of the 10th century, which saw the fall of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the rise of the Five Dynasties (907-960), marionette artists joined refugees from Luoyang through the Yellow River to the Quanzhou area.
The art form would thrive and develop in its new home. In Quanzhou today, if there is a wedding, funeral, celebration of a baby's hundredth day, completion of a new house or so on, it needs a marionette performance to present the “great gift.”
A Quanzhou marionette performance, “Journey to the West.” ©CGTN | Daken Art
Quanzhou Marionette Company was established in 1952 to spread and hand down the culture and tradition of the ancient folk art.
It gradually assembled over 700 traditional plays and more than 300 traditional qupai and qudiao, passing on a set of music playing and performing methods, such as “Xiangui,” “Yajiaogu” and “Paiban.”
By the end of the 1970s, the troupe created a classic and popular repertoire, called the "Flaming Mountain." In 2009, the troupe was awarded the title of “Excellent Repertory” by China's Ministry of Culture. The troupe has performed more than 4,000 shows.
Today, inheritors like Hong have gradually become the Troupe's backbone performers. They are often invited to perform in the United States, Germany, Japan and other places all around the world, as well as on television programs across the country. They often travel to perform in the mountainous and remote areas in the country.
Artists from Quanzhou Marionette Company perform in Quanzhou Marionette Theater. ©CGTN | Daken Art
“After a performance on one of those trips, an old man about 70 years of age carried a pickaxe on his shoulder. He came to me, laid his pickaxe aside, held my hands and said, ‘Wow, young man, I haven't seen any marionette show for more than 40 years. I am excited to see it and I am so happy.'”
It is the mutual love and passion between the audience and performers that allow this ancient folk art to still exist in Quanzhou, throughout China, and the world.