National treasure and glove puppetry master Vincent Huang passed away on June 12. The Huwei Township Office organized a memorial gathering at a local landmark to allow people to pay their respects through June 21.
The glove puppetry world is grieving the death of glove puppetry master Vincent Huang, who was known as the "Eight-Voice Wunderkind." Huang died on June 12 from illness at the age of 66. To give glove puppetry fans and residents the chance to pay their respects to Huang, the Huwei Township Office organized a memorial gathering at a local landmark dedicated to glove puppetry. Many people took the day off from work to pay their respects and lay flowers.
Mourner: “I came all the way from Taichung. (Why did you make this trip?) Because Vincent Huang died and I wanted to commemorate him. I actually wanted to come a couple of days ago, but I didn't have the time.”
Mr. Lin, Mourner: “I was really saddened when I heard the news. I took the day off from work today to come to Huwei to be part of this memorial gathering.”
The township office said the landmark, a statue of glove puppetry character Su Huan-jen in the center of a traffic roundabout, was unveiled at the end of 2021. It is grateful to Pili Puppetry Studios for authorizing the use of Su's image. People can pay their respects to Huang through June 21.
Ting Hsueh-chung, Mayor, Huwei Township: “We were shocked and saddened by Master Vincent Huang's passing. Many Pili and glove puppetry fans contacted us to see if we could set up a memorial site.”
The township office reminds those coming to pay their respects to pay attention to traffic while crossing the roundabout. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture will issue a certificate of commendation to thank Huang for dedicating his life to the development of glove puppetry, as well as passing it on to future generations and promoting it around the world.
布袋戲界被喻為「八音才子」的黃文擇，12日晚間因病辭世享壽66歲，也讓許多布袋戲迷感到不捨，為了讓戲迷、民眾能悼念大師，虎尾鎮公所開放虎尾地標素還真圓環供粉絲們追思，不少人特別請假來獻花。
追思民眾說：「從台中來的（怎麼會特別下來追思）就因為黃文擇過世，就特別過來追思，前幾天就想下來、時間上喬不攏。」
另名追思民眾林先生說：「聽到這消息，覺得很惋惜，所以透過今天因為請假關係，特地來虎尾一趟（追思的活動）。」
虎尾鎮公所表示，虎尾地標素還真圓環去年底順利啟用，最主要就是要感謝霹靂布袋戲國際公司授權，但現在布袋戲大師黃文擇辭世，公所開放圓環追思的時間，從即日起到6月21日為止。
虎尾鎮鎮長丁學忠說：「黃文擇大師辭世的事情，我們也非常震驚與不捨，也收到很多霹靂迷與布袋戲迷反映，看能否來設置一個追思地點。」
虎尾公所也提醒，追思期間若要行經圓環路口，民眾一定要注意來往車輛，避免影響交通；另外為了感謝黃文擇，一生奉獻傳統布袋戲藝術發揚、傳承，並推動布袋戲藝術到國際各地，文化部將頒發褒揚狀予以表揚。
