Traditionally known as the Marionette Show, the Puppet Show is a form of opera whose performers manipulate puppets to enact stories. Originating in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) and flourishing in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Puppet Show includes several branches such as the Marionette Show and Glove Puppetry.

Since the founding of People's Republic of China, the performances have expanded beyond the traditional form to include modern plays and even advertising.

Puppet artistry is renowned for its precision and ingenuity, with puppet designs and manipulation mechanisms playing a central role. The sculpting and visual designs of the puppets are especially critical to their artistic expression.

The Quanzhou Marionette Show dates back to the Qin (221-206 BC) and Han (206 BC-AD 220) dynasties and spread to East China's Fujian province during the Jin (317-420) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. By the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, it had reached Taiwan and Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.

The show preserves over 700 traditional plays and 300 qupai (a fixed melodic pattern), forming a unique musical style known as kuile diao which means marionette melodies. It also retains a refined system of string manipulation techniques, called "traditional basic thread rules", along with exquisite craftsmanship in puppet head carvings and modeling of figures.

These traditional plays reflect the folk beliefs and customs of ancient Quanzhou, Fujian province. Overall, it offers significant value for cultural identity and interdisciplinary research. However, it now faces intense competition from other artistic forms and deserves greater protection.