History of Affiliation with the Fengdexuan Temple Puppet Theatre Troupe in Surabaya, Indonesia

Wayang in Javanese means "shadow" or "imagination." Wayang has a long history in Indonesia. It is not merely an entertainment, but also a representation of arts and culture that is deeply associated with people's daily social lives. In 2003, it was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO. The culture of Indonesia is influenced by both Indian and Chinese cultures. The puppet theatre budaixi introduced by the immigrants from southeastern coastal China is also classified as a type of wayang. To differentiate it from other wayang, it is called Wayang Potehi, an onomonopoeia for the Fukien pronunciation of pò-tē-hì (puppet theater). In this article, I shall explore the history of the temple Fengdexuan in Surabaya Indonesia, and the development of its puppet theatre troupe. I will also discuss the troupe's organization and its artistic achievement