With their origins in the folk family art, North Sichuan Giant Puppetry has a history of more than 300 years. It is known as a ‘rare puppet art in the world and the crown of Chinese folk art’. It is also considered a ‘living fossil’ closest to the original appearance of ancient Chinese puppets.

Panda captain’ of North Sichuan Giant Puppet. (China Daily)

At the closing ceremony of 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the ‘giant panda captain’ produced by Sichuan Province (Nanchong) Giant Puppet theater stepped on the stage as the main character, shuttled on the ice, danced with intelligent robots, cruised in the internet tunnel, and sent an invitation from China to the whole world. The intricacy of the puppet show dazzled the audience.

Vivid puppets of North Sichuan Giant Puppet. (Photo by Dong Ning)

‘A giant puppet has characteristics similar to those of an actual person who is alive. The North Sichuan Giant Puppet is not only larger in size than other puppets, but also closer to real-life people in appearance. The five senses of the puppet are lifelike, while its eyes brim with emotions, its eyebrows dance and its mouth seems to move, packing a variety of expressions in the performance,’ Sichuan Province (Nanchong) Puppet Theater President Tang Guoliang said. In 2006, North Sichuan Giant Puppet was listed in the first batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China because of its exquisite production techniques and artistic performances.

Actors of Sichuan Puppet Theater perform puppet plays in the rehearsal room. (Photo by Dong Ning)

Puppet actors are versatile in the types of play they can perform. They operate the puppet and enable the audience to feel a connection with the play.

‘Our key priority is to make the North Sichuan Giant Puppet accessible and understandable to all. The other priority is to cultivate inheritors. We will train more performers and producers to give new vitality to this ancient art,’ Tang Guoliang said.(By Edina Liang)