Foreign students experience Taiwan’s puppetry tradition
In a colorful celebration of Taiwan's rich cultural heritage, international students gathered on Thursday (June 26) to experience the intricate art of traditional glove puppetry at one of the island's premier language institutions. National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU, 臺灣師範大學), a leading educational institution in Taiwan, hosted the renowned Chuan Le Ge Puppet Troupe (全樂閣木偶劇團) at its Mandarin Training Center (國語教學中心), offering foreign students a rare opportunity to engage with an art form that dates back centuries in Taiwanese cultural history.
The performance represented more than mere entertainment, according to Tsai Yah-sun (蔡雅薰), who directs the university's language center. 'These puppets embody a unique convergence of martial arts traditions, visual artistic expression, musical elements, and distinctly Taiwanese cultural narratives,' Tsai explained during the event. The director emphasized the performance's role in fostering meaningful cross-cultural connections while expressing optimism that international students would carry these cultural experiences back to their home countries as lasting impressions of their time in Taiwan.
The performing troupe has developed significant international experience, having previously showcased their artistry to audiences in Japan and Singapore. Understanding the linguistic barriers faced by their multicultural audience, the puppeteers deliberately minimized spoken dialogue throughout the performance, instead emphasizing the elaborate movements of the puppets and incorporating dramatic visual effects. Troupe director Cheng Chun-liang (鄭俊良) explained that this strategic adaptation makes traditional Taiwanese puppetry more accessible to international audiences who might otherwise struggle with the language elements, allowing them to connect with the emotional and artistic dimensions of this centuries-old performance tradition.
The performance featured unusually large puppets, each standing approximately 90 centimeters (35.4 inches) tall, significantly larger than traditional Taiwanese hand puppets. These oversized figures incorporated spectacular special effects and interactive elements specifically designed to transcend language barriers. International reactions highlighted the performance's success: a German language student expressed particular fascination with an intricate phoenix wing sequence, while also commending the center's comprehensive cultural education programs. Meanwhile, an American participant experiencing his first encounter with traditional Taiwanese performing arts noted his appreciation for both the elaborate stage design and the dynamic martial arts sequences featuring puppets wielding miniature swords.
The cultural showcase coincides with a significant milestone for the host institution, which is currently celebrating its 70th year of operation. The Mandarin Training Center at National Taiwan Normal University has established itself as Taiwan's most venerable and extensive Chinese language education facility over seven decades of continuous operation. The center has become a global educational hub, attracting a remarkably diverse student body that exceeds 11,000 international learners each year, representing nearly 100 different nationalities from across the world. This puppet performance exemplifies the center's commitment to providing not just language instruction but comprehensive cultural immersion for its international students.