Chen Shih-huang's Puppet Art Video Album Launch: Cheng Calls for Unbroken Legacy of Traditional Arts

(Taipei, June 13 — Reporter Chiu Tsu-yin) The Cultural Heritage Administration under Taiwan's Ministry of Culture held the launch event for the video album titled 'Chivalry Through the Ages: The Artistic Soul of National Treasure Chen Shih-huang' today. Deputy Premier Cheng Li-chun attended and delivered a speech, expressing her hope that the vitality of traditional arts would never cease, and that culture would continue to guide the people of this land forward.

The event took place at the Wumei Theater in the Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei. The opening performance featured 'The Chivalry Awards Ceremony' by the Chen Shih-huang Glove Puppet Troupe. In a playful segment, iconic characters from the video album—including Yue Fei, Xue Rengui, Bai Yaozi, and Dongfang Shi—competed for the 'Best Actor' award. Ji Gong appeared as the host to uphold fairness, ultimately awarding the honor to the hands behind the scenes—the master puppeteer himself, Chen Shih-huang.

Cheng Li-chun highlighted that Chen, born into a family of glove puppeteers, has witnessed the challenges and crises facing traditional arts throughout his life. Despite this, he has remained passionate and dedicated, tirelessly performing and committed to passing on his craft. She noted that the video album not only showcases Chen's profound artistry but also reflects the success of cultural transmission. 'This is a significant achievement in cultural heritage—a gift that moves and inspires Taiwanese society to cherish its roots,' she said.

Cheng also expressed gratitude to Chen for reminding her, during her tenure as Minister of Culture, of the importance of preserving traditional arts. 'The best way to preserve traditional arts is through continuous regeneration—enabling each generation to create, perform, appreciate, and love these arts on this land. This allows traditional arts to remain vibrant in contemporary society, reminding us who we are and where we are headed. Culture must lead us forward,' she emphasized.

The 95-year-old Chen Shih-huang attended the event and delivered a speech. He described himself as 'a child of glove puppetry since birth' and said he has spent his entire life 'guarding' this art form. He stressed that glove puppetry is a remarkable art and a vital national cultural asset that must be preserved with pride. 'We may lose in competition, but we must never lose face,' he declared, thanking the government for its support.

The video album took two years to complete and features eight classic performances: 'The Rainbow Pass,' 'The Loyalty of Yue Fei: Niu Toushan,' 'The Legend of Ji Gong: Meihua Mountain,' 'Xue Rengui Conquers the East: The Dragon Gate Formation,' 'The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants: Chaotian Ridge,' 'The Flying Sword Hero: Leaving a Note with a Severed Head,' 'The Iron Case,' and 'The Tianbo Tower.' All were personally supervised and demonstrated by Master Chen Shih-huang, performed jointly with his apprentices. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150613

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