Chongqing- Zhang Jing is a third-generation inheritor of Fengdu wooden puppetry; currently, an item of intangible cultural heritage that is recognized at the county level. She first began learning the art form in 1995 and then eventually raised 500,000 yuan to establish the Fengdu County Yibai Wooden Puppetry Ensemble in 2016, which now trains budding puppeteers free of charge. Having inherited the performance art from the previous generation master Jiang Yinghua, she studied under the nationally recognized first-tier actor Hua Meixia from the Yangzhou Puppet Research Institute.

Her performances blend the intangible cultural heritage of wooden puppetry with the local culture and folklore stories of her native Fengdu, allowing historical classics to survive through innovative modern additions, an achievement she has realized thanks to generous support from the Culture and Tourism Commission and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center of Fengdu County.

She has led the performance team in creating the ‘Stories of Fengdu’ series that include puppet shows entitled ‘Marriage of the Netherworld King,’ ‘Zhong Kui the Ghost Capturer,’ ‘Drunken Caprices,’ ‘Wang Tangyuan’s Exorcism,’ ‘Mortal Affections to Deity.’

In addition, she has also choreographed miniature programs such as the ‘Puppets’ Welcome’ and ‘Nichang Feather Dance, which have received lavish praise from all walks of society.

Heritage takes on an innovative nuance

Fengdu wooden puppetry originated from Sanjian Township in Fengdu County hundreds of years ago and belongs to the ‘Zhangtou’ wooden rod variety of traditional Chinese puppetry. The art form is a ‘living fossil’ of a traditional performance culture that reflects the faith and aesthetic values of the Fengdu people while inheriting the ideological themes of punishing evil, advocating benevolence, creating harmony, and venerating filial piety.

Her repertoire can also be tailored to the needs of specific occasions, such as the ‘rice seedling’ performance given during the planting season for the insect king Bodhisattva, which offers prayers for a smooth cultivation season and bumper harvest. The Children’s Show can be performed for prospective child-bearing couples. A Longevity Show is available for private birthday events with health and long life blessings, with titles including ‘Eight Immortals Traverse the Seas’ and ‘Magu Bestows Longevity.’ Other shows include festive performances tailored for holidays and weddings, while commemorative ‘Yin’ programs offer wishes for departed relatives.

Inheritance faced with practical challenges

Presently, the harsh realities of market demand and social environment mean that inheritance of Fengdu puppetry now faces extreme difficulties, which are further exacerbated by the demanding nature the art form puts on the shoulders of would-be inheritors. When prompted on the question, Mrs. Zhang Jing explained;

‘The most important quality for new inheritors is dedication, as the training needed for puppet shows is very arduous, and people find it difficult to persevere unless they have a strong love for wooden puppetry. Also, the technical demands can be very meticulous, so trainees need a lot of determination.’

Wooden puppetry is not just a national item of intangible cultural heritage but a treasure of Chinese folk art, including other varieties such as cloth, string, and stick puppets. There are highly professional puppet art troupes and research institutes in Beijing, Shanghai, Fujian, and Jiangsu, where they generally perform classic fairy tales and modern dramas familiar to Chinese people. They have often traveled abroad for cultural exchange in sister cities, and their performances have been very well received.

Fengdu wooden puppet opera performances come with an accompaniment of live traditional music and vocals, featuring instruments commonly seen in Sichuanese opera such as the ‘banhu’ soundboard, erhu, yueqin gongs, drums, and cymbals.

‘The choreography, directing, lyrics, songs, vocals, and music are performed by individuals from local literary, art, and opera circles in Fengdu. We adhere to the principle of originality and have successfully displayed this form of intangible cultural heritage in its original flavor.’