Presentation Schedule
The God of Taiwanese Opera and Puppetry: The Deity with a Crab on His Face (111401)
Session Chair: Min-Chia Young
Wednesday, 11 November 2026 10:45
Session: Session 1
Room: Room A (4F)
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
There is a legendary patron deity of Taiwanese opera and puppetry, often depicted with a crab on his forehead or in his mouth. He is known as Lei Haiqing, also called Marshal Tiandu, and is venerated by folk performers as the God of Stage. Legend has it that the marshal was born with a language impairment, abandoned by his mother in a paddy field, and raised by a crab. Little Tiandu grew up displaying extraordinary musical talent and eventually became a court musician favoured by Emperor Minghuang of the Tang (r. 712-756). During the An Lushan rebellion, the great musician refused to play for the rebel leader and was executed. He as later dubbed the “Great Scholar of the Stage” by the emperor and honoured as a deity of music. Employing a range of historical documents alongside linguistic analysis, this article examines the cultural formation, popular veneration, and textual representation of Marshal Tiandu, arguing that the cult of this patron deity is closely tied to Taiwanese cultural contexts and folk beliefs, and that it links performance, loyalty, and artistic integrity to the popular quest for a better life.
Authors:
Min-Chia Young, Shu-Te University, Taiwan
About the Presenter(s)
Dr MIN-CHIA YOUNG is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Shu-Te University in Taiwan
See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule
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