Hsin Sheng Ching Puppet Troupe Merges Projection Mapping with Traditional Taiwanese Puppetry

In recent years, facing the torrent of the times and the wave of digitalization, traditional performing arts in Taiwan have been actively seeking possibilities for transformation and breakthroughs. To showcase the innovative energy of Taiwan's local industries and traditional crafts, the General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) has partnered with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) Innovation Board to launch an in-depth video project titled "Innovative Bandoh." This project uses the lens to record various local teams in traditional fields that are bold enough to cross boundaries and introduce modern technology. The recently broadcast fourth episode shines a spotlight on the Xinshengjing Hand Puppet Theater, which is dedicated to promoting the modernization of traditional glove puppetry, taking viewers deep into how this family-run troupe uses projection mapping technology to inject new vitality into ancient stages.

The Xinshengjing Hand Puppet Theater holds an important place in the history of Taiwan's glove puppetry development. The inheritance of the troupe is not merely the handover of skills, but also an innovation in generational thinking. Faced with changing viewing habits and diversified entertainment options, traditional outdoor puppet theater faces unprecedented survival pressure. The new generation of successors in the troupe deeply realizes that simply clinging to past glories will eventually lead to marginalization by the times. Therefore, they have boldly attempted to combine projection mapping technology, commonly used in contemporary theater, with traditional wooden puppet stages in an attempt to create a breakthrough sensory experience in visual presentation. This model of integrating high-tech visual effects into traditional puppet performances not only tests the skills of the puppeteers, but also requires extremely precise coordination among the technical team in lighting, visuals, and live performance.

The "Innovative Bandoh" program details the journey and technical challenges experienced by the Xinshengjing brothers in promoting projection-mapped glove puppetry. The introduction of projection mapping technology instantly endows the originally flat and static traditional carved wooden stage with a three-dimensional spatial sense and ever-changing dynamic backgrounds. Whether it is special effects of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, or mystical fairyland scenes from mythology, they can be realistically presented on the stage through digital imagery, significantly enhancing the artistic expression and visual tension of glove puppetry. However, the painstaking effort behind this innovation is hard for outsiders to imagine. From the production of digital content and the setup of projection equipment to the flawless synchronization of image pacing with live gongs, drums, and spoken lines during performances, every single link requires countless rehearsals and revisions, demonstrating the troupe's steadfast commitment to artistic quality.

The core significance of the "Innovative Bandoh" video project, co-produced by the GACC and the TWSE Innovation Board, lies not only in recording the success story of a single team, but also in highlighting the importance of "innovation" across all industries in Taiwan. In recent years, the Taiwan Stock Exchange has actively promoted the Innovation Board with the aim of supporting the growth of forward-looking and innovative enterprises. This spirit of daring to break traditional frameworks is actually the key driving force for the sustainable development of Taiwan's traditional culture. The case of the Xinshengjing Hand Puppet Theater perfectly combining technology and traditional craftsmanship echoes the spirit represented by the Innovation Board, proving that traditional skills, when combined with modern technology, can still display strong vitality and market potential in contemporary society.

With the broadcast of the fourth episode of "Innovative Bandoh," the innovative journey of the Xinshengjing Hand Puppet Theater has once again sparked public attention and discussion on the issue of traditional art transformation. This is not only a visual and auditory feast, but also a profound cultural reflection. In today's era of rapid technological advancement, the preservation of traditional culture is no longer just about purely preserving its original flavor; it requires reinterpretation through contemporary vocabulary and technology to attract the attention of the younger generation of viewers. The successful transformation of Xinshengjing has set an excellent example for Taiwan's glove puppetry circle and traditional performing arts as a whole, allowing people to witness the brilliant radiance born from the fusion of tradition and technology. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)