It was an era when plays existed only as outlines, their dialogue passed down orally. Competing troupes flourished, performing at temple festivals and ritual occasions as gongs and drums thundered through the air. From beloved adaptations of classical tales to thrilling new chivalric dramas, Master Jin Feng led the Jinfuxuan Troupe to introduce two iconic heroes: The Undead Hero and The Mist Man.
From Japanese rule to the Nationalist era, from classical-script theater to the dazzling Jinguang style, the turbulent currents of history shape the lives of puppeteers and the bonds between masters and disciples. As The Undead Hero confronts The Mist Man, the martial world unfolds onstage while the trials of human life play out offstage—together weaving a grand, legendary saga of Taiwan’s glove-puppetry tradition. This book shows how puppeteers forged new paths to keep the tradition alive.