As stage lights illuminated a square-foot-sized puppet stage, it surprisingly conveyed the grand momentum of thousands of troops. With the deft finger movements of the performers, each puppet seemed to be infused with a soul.
On the evening of September 27, at Maoming Cultural Square in Maoming City, Maonan Solo Puppetry made its appearance on the "Maoming ICH Half-Hour" stage. This traditional art has a history of over 300 years.
"This is the sound from my childhood memories," said Uncle Li, who came to watch with his grandson. "When I was young, I watched puppet shows on the village grain-drying ground. Now, seeing young people inherit this art, I know this craft will never be lost."
Maonan Solo Puppetry originated in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties (1368-1912). It was introduced by Chen Tingzan from Yezi Village, Meihua Town, Maonan, and has developed over the past 300 years.
Innovations have been made continuously, from puppet designs to performance equipment. Today, this art form has entered universities, moving from rural open-air stages to modern performance venues. Currently, there are 38 troupes and more than 50 artists specializing in Maonan Solo Puppetry. In 2018, this traditional craft was included in the 7th batch of Guangdong Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Projects.
The "Maoming ICH Half-Hour" event features regular performances every Saturday evening from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The event includes ICH demonstrations, cultural interactions, and other activities. Since the launch of the "Maoming ICH Half-Hour" in mid-March this year, many ICH projects from Maonan have been showcased, including Maonan Hong Kung Fu, Lantern Dance, Feima Annual Ritual, and Azhu's Glutinous Rice Cake Making Technique.
Reporter: Yan Zhixiong
Photo: Huang Chunhai
Editor: Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
