Exploring Chinese
October 24 – Hakka Culture in Taiwan. The Hakka people, one of the ethnic minorities in Taiwan, have passed on their traditions through generations which contributes to the diversity and richness of Taiwanese culture. This workshop starts with a brief history of the origin of Hakka people, followed by an introduction of some aspects of Hakka culture such as music, food and clothing. It concludes with an activity of painting paper umbrellas, the most prominent Hakka craftsmanship. 
November 14 – Glove Puppetry in Taiwan. Glove puppetry, also known as Budaixi, is one of the most representative Taiwanese folk art. The puppet traditions were brought with people from Fijian province when they immigrated to Taiwan. The puppet shows were commonly seen as a part of temple activities for deity birthdays or festivals. At the meantime, it also served as a great entertainment for people in the past as they would gather to watch the shows. With the advent of new technology, puppet shows began to appear on TV with remarkable special effects. The first film was released in 2000, turning a centuries-old tradition to modern popularity as this blockbuster movie started a new puppet craze. This workshop will introduce the basic components of glove puppetry and its typical characters. The highlight of the workshop is to invite participants to make their own puppets and perhaps put on a show with collaborative efforts!
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