Donghua Shadow Puppet Theater Introduction
The Donghua Shadow Puppet Troupe has a history of two hundred years, originally known as the "Dexing Troupe." It is the most renowned cultural asset of Dasi Township. The fifth-generation heir, Zhang Decheng (deceased), was elected as one of the first National Ethnic Art Masters in 1989 together with Li Tianlu and others, enjoying the honor of being a national treasure. The local elders in the Sanmin Road area are well aware of "Puppet Zhang" Zhang's residence, with its lineage tracing back to Zhang Chuan, followed by Zhang Jiao and Zhang Decheng, affirming the artistic talents of the Zhang family. In an era without television, shadow puppetry was the most popular form of folk entertainment. During busy farming times, both adults and children gathered to watch shadow puppetry, listen to folk tales, and enjoy the unique light and sound effects of shadow plays. The Donghua Shadow Puppet Troupe grew under the influence of Zhang Decheng, touring around Taiwan in the 1940s and causing a sensation. They also performed in the United States, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and other places, promoting national diplomacy and contributing significantly. Zhang Decheng passed away in 1995, and his son, Zhang Ke-guo, took over his father's legacy of "passing down history through art," working closely with local cultural centers in recent years to preserve the culture of shadow puppetry. Shadow puppets and heritage: Over two thousand years ago, Emperor Wu of Han was grieving for his deceased beloved consort. He summoned a Taoist priest to call back her spirit using witchcraft. The priest set up a large cloth screen in the palace, using smoke and dim light to cast shadows on the screen, claiming that the shadows represented the ghostly figure, which comforted Emperor Wu. With such a beautiful legend, shadow puppetry has continued to be transmitted in China to this day. Chinese shadow puppetry is one of the earliest performing arts that utilized the effects of "light" and "shadow," combining rich imaginative elements with painting, carving, music, and drama. Historical records suggest that by the Northern Song Dynasty, its performance style had already matured. From the Song to the Ming and Qing dynasties, shadow puppetry remained popular and beloved among the people. Shadow puppetry is a two-dimensional art form, with each puppet design often presenting various combinations of sculptural techniques and perspectives. When manipulated by performers, combined with singing, narration, and drum music, it cleverly transforms through the progression of the storyline, creating a fantastical world of shadow puppets. The Donghua Shadow Puppet Troupe, passed down through generations, is the oldest shadow puppet troupe in Taiwan. What sets it apart is its adaptability; it does not limit itself to traditional performances but has made improvements in various aspects, such as enlarging the shadow windows and puppet sizes, enhancing colors, allowing for flexible joint manipulations, and creating special lighting effects for high-level techniques. In addition to its acclaim in the southern region, the Donghua Shadow Puppet Troupe was the only troupe to perform successfully in theaters across Taiwan from the 1950s to the early 1960s. It has been invited to perform in Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, the United States, and more. Due to the significant contributions of the fifth-generation leader, Mr. Zhang Decheng, the troupe received the first National Art Inheritance Award in 1985 and, in 1989, he was elected as the first important ethnic art master in the country. Currently, sixth-generation leaders Zhang Ke-guo and Zhang Yi-guo have inherited the mantle since 1987 and have devoted themselves to preserving and promoting Taiwanese shadow puppetry. Besides maintaining traditions, they add creativity, receiving praise from audiences for their flexible and rhythmic performances. They have won the Outstanding Artistic Inheritance Golden Lion Award, the National Top Ten Outstanding Youth Inheritance Award, and the Education Ministry’s first completion of training in important ethnic arts of shadow puppetry.
