Liao Wen-Ho Puppet Troupe of Erlun Township

Mr. Liao Wen-Ho began performing glove puppetry (Budaixi) in his childhood. His puppets, larger than average, along with his lively and exquisite performances and brilliant storytelling—which includes his ability to mimic over twenty different character voices by himself—consistently draw massive crowds to every show. He has also been invited to participate in ticketed performances abroad, bringing Taiwan's traditional art to the international stage. The Liao Wen-Ho Puppet Troupe was established in 1976. In the era before television became prevalent, troupes throughout Taiwan could attract audiences by performing in theaters or on outdoor stages. However, with the rise of television programs, watching TV gradually became the public's main leisure activity, leading to a severe decline in Budaixi audiences. Unwilling to yield to the trend of Budaixi's decline, Liao Wen-Ho actively invested heavily in a major reform of Budaixi. He expanded his stages, acquired new performance equipment, and remained devoted to the art of Budaixi. He not only features the most ancient traditional small puppets but also pioneered the nation's largest immortal puppets and the largest backdrops, including an extra-large backdrop 100 feet wide. He continuously experiments with and improves Budaixi performance methods.