History is created by the passing of time, yet the lives and history of the people enrich the era they live. Seden was born in the 1980s, when society began to become more open and the rise of a local Taiwanese consciousness emerged. New forms of entertainment appeared and glove puppetry dramas hit the television screens. This was the temporal backdrop for the founding of Seden Glove Puppetry Foundation and is the context for the general direction and plot of this “play”. However, even though time serves as the main playwright, shaping the development of the Seden from founding to the present, the establishment of the foundation was not merely a result of random coincidences stemming from objective factors. The main characters of this play include three NTU professors who had a common vision of reviving, preserving, and passing on traditional Taiwanese culture. Their voluntary dedication and enthusiastic spirit not only forged the strong bonds among this group of theater enthusiasts but also shaped the story and development of Seden, bringing back a once declining art back to the contemporary stage and ensuring its continuous legacy. This group of “characters” defied the trends of the times, actively preserving and promoting traditional puppetry through their “rebellious” choices. They no longer remained as powerless figures constrained by historical realities but have transformed into actors and playwrights who fully had control of the direction of the plot. With unwavering determination and steadiness, they continue to script and stage the past, present, and future of Seden.
The passing on of cultural heritage is no simple task, yet Seden, true to its name, under the protection and keeping of the gods and the passionate efforts of foundation members and veteran puppet masters, was able to attract audiences across different age groups. With unwavering belief, this “play” will uphold its original inspiration that sparked its creation and continue to faithfully portray the beauty of Taiwanese glove puppetry through each and every performance.