Nezha Rages in the Eastern Sea

Nezha Rages in the Eastern Sea——A Journey of Chiao Wan-Jan Glove Puppetry to Canada Performed at the Edmonton Heritage Festival

Inviting Organization: Edmonton Taiwanese Association

Performing Group: Pingdeng Elementary School, Taipei City・Chiao Wan-Jan Glove Puppet Troupe

Event Supervisor: Principal Chen Jin-Shan, Pingdeng Elementary School

Project Planning: Hsieh Fu-An, Li Gong-Yuan

Performance Dates: July 30 – August 11, 2008

Performance Locations: Edmonton & Vancouver, Canada

Program Title: Nezha Rages in the Eastern Sea

Performers:

Front Stage Leads: Pan Hsin-Ting, Chen Ming-Chen

Front Stage Assistants: Li Yi-Ping, Lin Yun-Sheng

Backstage Main Drum: Hsu Chih-Jen

Backstage Drum Assistant: Hsu Yi-Chan

Backstage Gong and Cymbals: Wang Po-Yen

Backstage Small Gong: Wang Po-Yi

Backstage Suona (double-reed): Chu Hui-Hsin, Wu Pei-Ting

Supporting Team:

Group Leader: Li Gong-Yuan

Artistic Director: Chi Shu-Ling

Backstage Instructor: Chou Hsin-Yi

PTA President: Chen Te-Chuan

Parent Representative: Tseng Chia-Hsiang

Costume Design & Production: Cheng Hui-Chung

Photography: Liu Ching-Lung

Videography: Lo Te-Hua

Advising Masters:

Front Stage Masters: Wu Jung-Chang, Huang Wu-Shan

Front Stage Teacher: Li Gong-Yuan

Backstage Masters: Wu Wei-Hao

Backstage Teachers: Chi Shu-Ling, Chou Hsin-Yi

The Puppet Legend “Chiao Wan-Jan” — A Distant Tale... Remembering Chiao Wan-Jan

By Teacher Chi Shu-Ling

The year was 1987.

Within a conservative system, native art still lingered quietly at the margins...

A simple wish to enrich the curriculum, a chance encounter,

and I found myself joining the Xi-Tian Society initiated by a professor at National Taiwan University.

There, I began studying classical glove puppetry under the great master Li Tien-Lu.

It was a journey like bathing in spring breeze—

Astonishment at the master’s living hands,

at the elegance, precision, and power of classical puppetry.

Voices from the land—

they stirred the rhythm and emotion buried deep within us.

So we moved past all obstacles.

On March 11, 1988, with the hearts and hands of students, parents, teachers, masters, and friends of Pingdeng Elementary School,

we founded a children’s puppet troupe.

The master gave it its name—

Chiao Wan-Jan.

In the Palm, a Vast Universe; From a Pure Heart, Beauty Flows

Pingdeng Elementary School, nestled in Pingdeng Village atop Taipei’s Yangmingshan, is a small rural school with fewer than a hundred students.

In 1988, inspired by her love of glove puppetry, music teacher Chi Shu-Ling invited Taiwan’s national puppet art treasure Master Li Tien-Lu to the school. There, with the involvement of the principal, teachers, and students, the Chiao Wan-Jan Glove Puppet Troupe was born.

Rooted in Master Li’s renowned Yi Wan-Jan tradition, Chiao Wan-Jan inherited an unbroken lineage. Esteemed puppet artists and heirs such as Chen Hsi-Huang, Li Chuan-Tsan, Li Shun-Fa, Yang Tsai-Ming, and Master Li’s close disciples including Wu Jung-Chang, Wu Wei-Hao, Huang Chiao-Wei, Huang Wu-Shan, and Lin Yung-Chih came to teach.

Together with dedicated educators like Chi Shu-Ling, Shih Hui-Chen, Ni Yu-Ping, Chu Pei-Ling, Huang Chien-Jung, Chen Hsiu-Feng, Hsu Chien-Jung, Chen Chun-Chia, Li Gong-Yuan, Chou Hsin-Yi, Hsu Chin-Lung, Chang Shu-Ching, and many others, the troupe steadily cultivated the soil of tradition—step by step, hand in hand.

In an era swept by globalization, tradition has grown ever more rare and precious. Innovation without the deep soil of tradition risks becoming castles in the air, blossoms without roots.

Through its unwavering dedication to classical forms and essence, Chiao Wan-Jan has not only preserved Taiwan’s cultural heritage—it has become a living vessel of humanity’s artistic legacy, preparing fertile ground for the future’s creative flowering.

Chiao Wan-Jan does not merely perform glove puppetry— it performs the hidden power of beauty and goodness in the people, and writes a tender legend in the palm of the hand.

Troupe Characteristics and Repertoire of “Chiao Wan-Jan” Puppet Troupe:

1. Upholding the traditional dual-stage form of glove puppetry, with front-stage puppeteering and live back-stage performance using traditional Nanguan and Beiguan instruments. Today in Taiwan, troupes retaining live back-stage music are extremely rare, and even more so those performed by children.
2. Utilizing traditional small-sized puppets, in contrast to the large-scale television puppets that developed later. The puppeteering emphasizes refined and vivid human-like movements, paired with elegant and humorous Taiwanese Hokkien pronunciation. Performances focus on traditional stories, interwoven with modern idioms and witty narration, allowing audiences to enjoy both the aesthetic beauty and the lively charm of traditional puppet art.
3. Now in its 21st year, the troupe holds the longest continuous history of glove puppetry preservation by an elementary school in Taiwan.

Notable performances include episodes from Journey to the West such as “The Havoc in the Crystal Palace,” “The Fiery Cloud Cave,” and “Pigsy's Wedding Proposal”; adaptations from Water Margin such as “Wu Song Slays the Tiger” and “Wu Song Mistakenly Slays the Tiger”; and other memorable plays such as “The Fateful Encounter,” “The Monk Ji Gong Tames the White Ape,” “Spoon vs. Cat,” and “The Judge and the Stone.” Beyond traditional classics, they have also created and staged original adaptations, including fairy tales like “The Three Little Pigs” and student-written works such as “The Worries of Silly Skin,” “The Ugly Little One’s Transformation,” and “Lazyland's Lazy Contest.”

Performance Records of “Chiao Wan-Jan” Puppet Troupe

1988 — Featured in “National Anthem – Children’s Edition” produced by Central Motion Pictures Corporation.

1991 — The documentary “Chiao Wan-Jan” was nominated for the Golden Horse Awards.

1992 — Performed at the Chuncheon International Puppet Festival, South Korea.

2000 — Toured elementary schools and communities in the earthquake-affected areas of Nantou and Taichung.

2001 — Performed at the “Taiwan Cultural Festival” and local elementary schools in Vancouver, Canada.

2002 — Appeared at Japan’s “Iida International Puppet Festival” and “Isesaki City Festival” in Gunma Prefecture.

2004 — Performed at the “Canberra Multicultural Festival” and local elementary schools in Australia.

2005 — First Prize in Taipei City’s First Creative Puppet Theater Competition.

2006 — Performed at the Presidential Banquet for Outstanding Educators at Chungshan Building.

2007 — Honored with the Ministry of Education’s “Public Social Education Award – Distinguished Group.”

2008 —I Can Perform Puppet Theater won “Best Documentary” at the Taiwan International Children's TV Festival.

Performed at the “Edmonton Heritage Festival” in Canada.

The Origin of the 2008 Journey to Canada

Edmonton’s “Heritage Festival” in Canada

Lighting the Hearth of Heritage in Edmonton

In 1974, the Government of Alberta, Canada, proclaimed the first Monday of every August as Heritage Day, a heartfelt tribute to immigrants from across the globe who helped shape the cultural soul of the province.

In 1975, the first multicultural music exhibition took root in the historic Fort Edmonton Park. Just a year later, eleven cultural groups from diverse races and homelands gathered in the vast 153-acre William Hawrelak Park. Through music, cuisine, crafts, and cultural displays, they shared the essence of their ancestral traditions—each booth like an altar of memory, each offering a whisper from the homeland.

What began as a humble community gathering soon blossomed into Edmonton’s most beloved annual celebration. Over 33 years, the festival expanded into a three-day carnival of over 60 ethnic groups, representing nearly 80 countries. By 2006, the event had drawn over 420,000 visitors, and since 1999, it has been recognized as one of North America’s Top 100 Festivals.

The Taiwanese Association of Edmonton — Illuminating Taiwan's Cultural Diplomacy

By Dr. Ming-Hsiung Chen

Edmonton, the northernmost major city in North America and capital of Alberta, is a vibrant city of over a million souls. Though its winters are long and cold, its cultural heartbeat is warm and strong. For the Taiwanese community here—modest in number but rich in spirit—the city has become a garden for cultivating cultural diplomacy.

Since 1974, a group of Taiwanese scholars from Europe, the U.S., and Japan settled here and gradually gave rise to the Taiwanese Association of Edmonton. They established schools, published newsletters, and held gatherings that kept their cultural roots alive. When the devastating 1999 earthquake struck Taiwan, they raised funds swiftly, proving that the heart knows no distance.

Every summer, the city hosts the "Heritage Festival," where over sixty cultural groups set up pavilions to share their heritage through dance, food, costumes, and crafts. In the early 1980s, only a Hong Kong-style “Chinese Pavilion” was present. In 1980, we began the endeavor to establish a "Taiwan Pavilion." Faced with fierce opposition from local Chinese associations, we defended our right to represent Taiwan authentically—asking how those who had never stepped foot on Taiwanese soil could speak for us? The organizers saw the truth, and the Taiwan Pavilion was born.

For 28 years since, the Taiwan Pavilion has faithfully carried Taiwan’s voice into the heart of Edmonton’s multicultural festival. In 2008, we gathered nearly a thousand volunteers to create an unprecedented cultural showcase: a cultural tent with calligraphy and glove puppetry, a Taiwanese cuisine tent rich in aroma, and a nostalgic tent of traditional games. The Chiao Wan-Jran puppet troupe's performances were broadcast on major media, igniting pride among the diaspora and admiration among all who witnessed them.

It was not merely a performance—it was a radiant affirmation of Taiwan’s cultural soul.

Chiao Wan-Jran's Journey to Canada: Performing Nezha Conquers the Dragon King

In 2008, Chiao Wan-Jran traveled to Canada at the invitation of the Edmonton Taiwanese Association to take part in the annual "Edmonton Heritage Festival," bringing with them a performance that became an unforgettable memory and tale…

Nezha Conquers the Dragon King:

The child-god Nezha, under the guidance of his master Taiyi Zhenren, learns the celestial arts. Upon mastering his powers, he is sent back to the human realm to serve his parents dutifully. One day, spirited and playful as ever, Nezha wanders to the seashore with an old servant. He dips the magical "Cosmic Silk"—a gift from his master—into the ocean, stirring the waters and shaking the Dragon Palace below as if an earthquake had struck. The Dragon King Ao Guang dispatches a sea demon to investigate, who tragically falls under Nezha’s inadvertent strike. Enraged, Ao Guang sends his third son Ao Bing with an army of sea creatures—shrimp soldiers and crab generals—to wage war against Nezha…

Adapted from the classic Chinese mythological novel Fengshen Yanyi (The Investiture of the Gods), this play dazzles with vivid characters and transformations. Particularly mesmerizing are the underwater scenes—colorful marine puppets glide across the stage, and Taiwanese gong-and-drum rhythms performed live by children bring vibrant life to the mythical battle. A timeless and delightful performance for audiences young and old.

Taiwanese Glove Puppetry — A Marvel in Canada Our Offering, Our Gratitude

Documenting Chio Wan-Ran's 2008 Canada Performance

By Principal Chen Chin-Shan, Pingdeng Elementary School

In 2008, the Chio Wan-Ran Glove Puppetry Troupe of Pingdeng Elementary turned twenty-one. It was a year that etched itself deeply in our hearts.

With the support, generosity, and compassion of many kind souls, we fulfilled a long-held dream: to bring Taiwan’s glove puppetry—the soul of this island’s heritage—to the distant land of Canada. The performance in Edmonton dazzled audiences and became a deeply moving cultural celebration.

This sharing springs forth from profound gratitude.

The children’s dedication, the tireless efforts of teachers and masters, the unwavering support of parents, the generosity of sponsors, and the enthusiasm of overseas audiences—

Together, they formed a symphony of dreams and beauty, resonating across borders.

To all who walked this path with us, we offer thanks.

To all beings, to the heavens and the earth, to Taiwan—our nurturing homeland—we bow in heartfelt appreciation.

In this season of thanksgiving, we share not only our gratitude but our hope: that Chio Wan-Ran may continue to touch hearts, building new connections and friendships along the way.

Notes from the Fundraising Journey

In mid-February 2008, the Edmonton Taiwanese Association extended their invitation.

We rejoiced at the opportunity to shine on the international stage, yet were concerned about the financial burden.

But a single good thought can illuminate the path.

Through the united efforts of students, teachers, and families, the dream of this overseas journey blossomed into reality.

February 14

A call across the ocean—Mr. Hsieh Fu-An of the Edmonton Taiwanese Association inquires about the troupe’s willingness to perform in Canada. A seed of possibility is sown.

March 11

Chio Wan-Ran celebrates its 21st anniversary. Teachers whisper a heartfelt wish: to once again lead the children onto the world stage.

April 7

The official invitation arrives from Edmonton. Joy mingles with concern: how will we fund this sacred journey?

April 24

Mr. Hsieh Fu-An returns to Taiwan in person, meeting with students and parents to ignite the dream with his presence.

April 27

The troupe joins the Mazu pilgrimage at Cihui Temple in Shilin, praying devoutly for blessings upon their coming voyage.

April 28

Printed and digital proposals are sent to kind-hearted groups and friends, earnestly seeking support.

May 19

The overseas troupe is selected: eight chosen, two alternates. Training begins in earnest, with dreams as their compass.

May 28–June 21

Media coverage brings waves of support—corporate donations, gift vouchers from young students, even funds from a sister school’s recycling program. Every drop of kindness becomes a river of encouragement.

June 22

In sweltering 36.8°C heat, the troupe performs four consecutive shows at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, a five-hour marathon of heartfelt fundraising.

June 24

A special performance at Eslite Dunnan Bookstore in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, blending tradition and education.

July 2

Overseas summer training begins—puppeteers-in-training polish their craft with dedication and discipline.

July 7

Taipei’s Director of Education, Wu Ching-Shan, visits the school to personally encourage the young performers.

July 12

At noon, a commemorative performance for Master Li Tien-Lu’s tenth memorial at Tamsui MRT Station; in the evening, another show at Xingtian Temple Library.

July 22

A prestigious performance at Regent Taipei for international guests of the Central Election Commission.

July 26

The final pre-departure performance at Taipei Botanical Garden—farewell to home soil, carried on the wind like a prayer.

A Stunning Journey of Taiwanese Puppetry: Chio Wan-Ran Flies to Canada

On the evening of July 30, 2008, ten young members of the Chio Wan-Ran puppet troupe, accompanied by eight devoted teachers, parents, and a film documentation team, embarked on a sacred journey to Canada. With five heartfelt virtues gently imparted by their mentors—gratitude, enthusiasm, courtesy, diligence, and safety—they set forth with reverence, carrying with them not only suitcases but the spirit of a tradition in bloom.

Dreams fulfilled, hearts awakened—Chio Wan-Ran stunned Edmonton.

By Teacher Li Gong-Yuan

On August 11, 2008, the Chio Wan-Ran Puppet Troupe triumphantly returned from Edmonton, Canada, carrying home hearts full of gratitude and eyes bright with inspiration. Among over sixty cultural performance groups at the World Folk Festival, it was Taiwan’s Chio Wan-Ran that alone captured the attention of three major TV stations and two leading newspapers—a media home run that elevated Taiwan's cultural presence on the world stage.

Upon arriving in Edmonton on July 31, arranged by Taiwanese diaspora liaison Dr. Huang Tian-Rong, the children were warmly welcomed by Mayor Mandel, who hosted a press conference at City Hall. Touched by their determination to raise travel funds and pursue their dream, the mayor extended the original fifteen-minute meeting into nearly an hour of laughter and heartfelt exchange—a luminous start to their journey.

On August 1, the Edmonton Sun featured the children in vivid photos, joyfully manipulating their puppets. That evening, they brought their gongs and puppets to the World Youth Baseball Championship to cheer for Taiwan’s team. Global TV filmed the moment, airing two segments that day, telling a heartfelt story of passion and performance.

On August 2, The Edmonton Journal, the city’s largest newspaper, ran a double-page story, chronicling the troupe’s tireless fundraising and dream-fulfilling journey—Taiwanese children’s touching spirit echoing through Canadian hearts.

On August 3, the youth baseball team visited the festival. During their break, Chio Wan-Ran’s young performers staged a spontaneous extra show for their fellow Taiwanese ambassadors—two groups, one homeland, meeting in unity and joy, engraving an unforgettable memory into the soul of Edmonton.

On August 2, 2008, the Heritage Festival in Edmonton opened in full bloom. Among sixty-plus countries and over fifty performance booths, Taiwan's representative troupe — Chio Wan-Ran — stood out as a luminous jewel, deeply loved and praised by international audiences. Their featured show, Nezha Disturbs the Eastern Sea, was staged twelve times across three days, drawing many who had read or seen news coverage to witness the magical performance and cheer on the children with heartfelt admiration.

Three elderly Canadian grandmothers declared themselves devoted fans of performer Chen Ming-Chen, to his surprise and delight — he felt like a little celebrity. Another student, Pan Hsin-Ting, appeared in the press twice and proudly collected newspaper clippings as souvenirs, eager to bring them home as a gift to his mother. Graduating members Hsu Chih-Chen and Hsu Yi-Chan, preparing for middle school, clung to the final curtain call with reluctance, expressing to younger students their wish for more opportunities to perform: "All the hardship in training... was worth it for memories like these."

Taiwanese expatriates were moved to tears, seeing these children carry the flame of tradition beyond the island, lighting it upon foreign soil. For three days, elders and students alike visited to uplift the troupe with kind words and support.

Chio Wan-Ran was warmly received by the Taiwanese Association of Edmonton and Catholic Hong Kong parishioners. The children marveled at Canada’s clear air, vast forests, gentle cities, and love for animals. In this land of immigrants, they found kindness at every turn — once even invited by a 73-year-old Ukrainian woman to visit her home after a brief meeting at a supermarket.

During the final four days of self-guided travel to the Rockies and Vancouver, the children never parted from their instruments or puppets. At every chance, they performed spontaneous puppet shows for curious tourists, awakening interest in the mystical island of Taiwan. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver held a special reception to honor the troupe, praising them as outstanding "young diplomats" for their successful media presence and cultural influence.

With the Canadian dream now realized, the troupe came together to reflect and celebrate. A vow was made: every August, they would reunite, continuing to love and serve Taiwan through cultural volunteerism — ensuring this spark of inspiration never fades, but ignites future dreams anew.

Spreading Wings, Sharing Dreams

By Mr. Te-Chuan Chen, Chair of the PTA, Pingdeng Elementary School, Academic Year 2007

The 2008 Canada tour of Chio Wan-Ran was a challenge — beautiful, yet arduous. To make this dream journey possible, the Parent-Teacher Association and Teacher Gong-Yuan Li held many late-night discussions on how to raise the necessary funds. In the end, we chose the most heartfelt path: sending the children to perform show after show, honing their skills and immersing them in the spirit of striving together for a dream.

Especially memorable was June 22nd, when we performed under the blazing sun at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf. The PTA was fully mobilized, bringing handmade cookies, steamed buns, potted plants, and local specialties to sell at a fundraising booth. Though the income was modest, we performed four shows from noon until dusk. The sweat and applause mingled to move many hearts.

Thanks to media coverage and the continued performances, donations began to arrive from all directions. By mid-July, we had finally raised the full amount needed. The entire fundraising journey — its hardships and sweetness alike — remains a deeply etched memory in our hearts.

During Chio Wan-Ran’s performances in Edmonton, local mainstream media covered the events for several consecutive days. Over time, the young troupe members grew increasingly confident in speaking to reporters — a precious experience of international exposure. Their exquisite performances not only astonished foreign audiences with the profound beauty of Taiwanese glove puppetry, but also drew support from overseas Chinese hailing from Beijing, Sichuan, various parts of Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.

Many elderly overseas Taiwanese residents, who have lived in Canada for decades, returned repeatedly to watch the performances, reluctant to leave. Moved to tears, they asked again and again: Does Taiwan truly still preserve these traditions? Their heartfelt concern for the continuity of Taiwanese culture was deeply touching.

For every member of the troupe, this was not just a participation in an international arts festival; it was a journey into the cultural kaleidoscope of over sixty nations. With this, the young puppeteers presented their very first name cards to the world — each one stepping forward as a little cultural ambassador, carrying the essence of Taiwan in their hearts.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the Edmonton Taiwanese Association for their sincere invitation and warm hospitality — we truly felt the warmth of friendship. We thank the Catholic community for their generosity and care. We thank the vibrant energies of Taiwan’s people…

There are so many to thank. We shall transform this gratitude into an enduring strength — to help Chio Wan-Ran go further, and flourish longer in the world.

Moved, and Moved to Share

Lead Performer, Pan Xin-Ting, age 11

Coming to Canada made me so happy—but sometimes I didn’t know whether to feel joy or sadness. At the farewell party, the food was delicious and I felt cheerful, yet when I remembered we’d be leaving Edmonton the next day, I wanted to cry… This really was an amazing experience.

Lead Performer, Chen Ming-Chen, age 11

On the second day of the Edmonton Heritage Festival, during a break after our afternoon show, we were wandering the park when suddenly—we ran into the Chinese Taipei junior baseball team! We had cheered them on before, and now they came to watch us perform! The coach asked, “We’ve got something later—could you perform early for us?” Of course we could! We rushed back to the Taiwan Pavilion and, even before the teachers returned, we performed an extra show just for them. Afterward, as a huge baseball fan, I grabbed my jacket and a pen and ran off to get autographs. That was the happiest moment of the entire trip for me!

Stage Assistant, Li Yi-Ping, age 10

When we arrived in Edmonton, it was already night—and freezing! I felt like I was turning into an icicle. But the moment we stepped into the airport and saw Uncle Xie and the others who came to welcome us, I felt warm inside. When we left, I saw Uncle Xie’s eyes turning red, like he was about to cry. I think we all felt reluctant to go.

Lin Yun-Sheng, Frontstage Assistant, Age 9——

Going to Canada made me so happy—like a kite soaring in the sky. I saw the Sword in the Stone from England, Viking ships from the north, Dutch clogs, snuff bottles, belly dances from Arabia, flamenco from Spain, shadow puppets from Indonesia… The world is full of wonders. I also met Teabag, Uncle Hsieh, Little Dou, Guide Lin, an alien driver, and a ninety-year-old grandma. Every warmhearted person made me feel the world is a place you can embrace. Thank you all!

Hsu Chih-Chen, Drum Conductor, Age 12——

This was my last performance with Hsü Yi-Chan, and although I felt a little sad, I was mostly joyful. I made it all the way to graduation! One day, if someone asks what I’ve learned, I’ll say proudly: “I was part of Taiwan’s most enduring glove puppet troupe—Chiao Wan-Jan.” That honor will live in my heart forever.

Hsü Yi-Chan, Drum Player, Age 12——

I feel lucky. In Chiao Wan-Jan’s 21-year history, I had the chance to perform overseas. It proves that my effort and perseverance were right. I just want to say: “Chiao Wan-Jan, go! Go! Go!”

Wang Po-I, Small Gong, Age 11——

I’m so glad because Chiao Wan-Jan appeared in the news, on TV, and we even met the mayor. There were lots of people watching us perform—I felt a sense of accomplishment, like we were glowing from within.

Wang Po-Yen, Cymbals, Age 11——

On the first day, I placed my cymbals in the wrong spot and couldn’t see the conductor. On the second, the teachers blocked my view. I wasn’t satisfied with how I played. But on the last day, I got the placement right. With all the earlier practice, I played smoothly and confidently. I think I did great!

Suona Performer / Wu Pei-Ting, 11 years old——

Edmonton is truly a beautiful place—clean air, kind-hearted bus drivers who stop and let us cross the road, and buses that feel like moving stories. After performing, we visited so many fun places. I feel really lucky, and I know we have so many people to thank. Because of them, this journey became a dream come true.

Dr. Huang Tian-Rong, Founding Elder of Edmonton Taiwanese Association——

Dear Teacher Li and all friends of Chiao Wan-Jan, thank you for bringing the warm songs and traditions of Taiwan to the hearts of those in Edmonton. Your laughter, kindness, and dedication have truly touched us. Though our time together was brief, our hearts are now forever connected. May you continue your journey in spreading Taiwan’s beautiful heritage. And may we meet again under another sky, someday soon.

Liao Wing-Cheung (God of Earth), Catholic Church in Edmonton, Hong Kong Fellowship——

Dear young glove puppet masters from Taiwan, it was a true honor to meet you and witness your exquisite performances. I was deeply moved by your passion and focus on your art. Despite the heat and multiple shows, you persevered, sharing the beauty of glove puppetry with so many who had never seen it before. You are rare cultural messengers—keep going! Shine on!

Backstage Teacher, Chou Hsin-Yi——

We crossed half the globe to reach this land of dreams—Canada. At the very moment dreams came true, words fell short of the joy I felt. Each day here was a blessing. I witnessed the freedom of wildlife, the openness of the skies, and the warmth of human hearts. My soul is full, brimming with gratitude. To all who have loved and supported Chiao Wan-Jan: thank you from the depths of my being. I love Chiao Wan-Jan!

Parent Representative, Tseng Chia-Hsiang——

Walking with Chiao Wan-Jan to Canada, our team of eighteen became one spirit. Each person, like a vital cog in a sacred machine, gave their all to bring this journey to a harmonious close. But I believe this is not the end—it is a luminous beginning. Chiao Wan-Jan, may your journey continue ever onward, carried by love and purpose.

Event Organizer / Andrew Hsieh, Edmonton Taiwanese Association——

Thank you to every child and teacher from Chiao Wan-Jan for your wholehearted participation. Each of you became a star in Canada—people recognized you on the streets! This is the reward of your dedication to glove puppetry. Please keep going. Let this sacred art continue to flourish through your hands.

Costume Designer / Cheng Hui-Chung——

I am deeply grateful for the chance to serve this land through my craft. To help fulfill and complete a collective dream is a sacred joy. Taiwan—I love you, always.

Group Leader / Li Kung-Yuan——

This journey was filled with pride, and the miracles we witnessed will remain unforgettable. To see our children shine on an international stage—this is the most moving story I’ve ever lived.

Art Director / Chi Shu-Ling——

Everything was truly precious. I am grateful for the rare beauty of this journey—and I will treasure it always.