Being a part of the 14th Asia Arts Festival, the 4th Quanzhou International Puppetry Festival concluded in Jinjiang after 5 days performances since Nov 13. The event attracted 22 puppetry groups from 14 countries and regions and put on 58 shows in 36 theatres around Fujian, according to the committee.

The Quanzhou International Puppetry Festival was initiated in 1986, and it was also the first international puppetry festival in China. The second session was held after six year, in 1992, and the third, after eight years in 2000. It took more than a decade and half to take place the fourth one but it remained the largest one.

Longshan Legend performed by artists from Jinjiang Hand-puppet Art Protection Center. It was the final performance in the closing ceremony, Nov 13. [Photo/ijjnews.com]

Longshan Legend was said to be the most anticipated performance during the closing ceremony of the event. Having over 70 puppets controlled by 30 artists, it tells a story about a Jinjiang's merchant, who follows the instruction of Avalokitesvara enshrined in Longshan Temple to go to Taiwan. A series of incidents happened to him and finally he succeeded in his business. He also sets up a branch of Longshan Temple in Taiwan to worship the guidance of Avalokitesvara. The show successfully showed the top level of Jinjiang traditional puppet art and gained recognition from domestic and international puppetry artists as expected.

Jinjiang hand-puppet show is one of the first National Intangible Cultural Heritage projects and was first enlisted in the Intangible Cultural Heritages by the United Nations, as an important part of Fujian puppet talent cultivation plan in November 2012. Termed as "oriental art treasure", Jinjiang hand-puppet has traveled around the world to show its charm during the past several years.

Chen Shizhang, director of Jinjiang Hand-puppet Art Protection Center had said in an earlier report that Jinjiang Theater has upgraded its booms, lighting and sound system to help present an ideal performance and show the top level of Jinjiang traditional puppet art this time.

Longshan Legend performed by artists from Jinjiang Hand-puppet Art Protection Center. It was the final performance in the closing ceremony, Nov 13. [Photo/ mnw.com]

Jacques Trudeau, secretary-general of International Puppeteers Union of UNESCO profusely praised this year's puppetry festival in the closing ceremony. Jacques spoke highly of Longshan Legend, "It is more like a puppetry opera! Quanzhou has developed its unique way of puppetry art performance." In addition, he expressed wishes to bring the performance back to Europe if he could.

He also affirmed that he would introduce puppetry art in China to the world in an exchange meeting to be held in Spanish next year. Trudeau also expected to record the grand 4th Quanzhou International Puppetry Festival to mark the history in some literature in the future.

Edited by Shahnawaz Akhtar