Taiwanese glove puppetry, a popular performance art, is now on display in the atrium of the New Free Library till September 30.  Provided by the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO), the exhibit features eight series of Taiwanese folklore tales and temple fair tradition.

One of the folklore series is Auntie Tiger, a Hakka folktale about a tiger spirit, who, through the use of black magic, turns itself into an elderly woman.  Disguised as a kind old lady, the spirit knocks on doors and preys particularly on children who are home alone. Its tricks were eventually uncovered by three astute children, Faith, Hope and Love.  In the end, the tiger spirit meets its demise.  Auntie Tiger is a popular children’s story which teaches the young not to invite strangers into the house.

The other folklore series, Tien-Ding Liao, tells the story of a Robin Hood-like figure by the very name.  Born under the Japanese Occupation at the turn of the 20th Century, Liao, both a rebel and a hero, robbed the rich Japanese and gave to the suffering Taiwanese.

The temple fair series feature the lion dance, the dragon dance, “clothed horse cavalry (which depicts an inept official who rides a horse and makes a fool of himself),” “elderly carrying the young,” “dry land sailing” – all of which are customary temple fair activities in Taiwan.

Jack C. Huang, the Director of Culture Center of TECO, says these puppetry series are to reflect Taiwan’s folk religion, history and ethnic arts.

The Newton Free Library is located at 330 Homer Street, Newton Center.

Special thanks to Ellen Meyers of the Newton Free Library.