Puppet show, commonly known as wooden head puppet show, is an ancient and rare drama in northwestern Hunan. It is a local drama that has been formed by absorbing the art of Jinghe Opera, Chenhe Gaoqiang Opera, Han Opera, etc. on the basis of Tujia sacrificial drama, Qingmiao drama, and land drama. It is mostly performed in courtyards and Pingba huts, and is popularly called "short stage group". According to page 98 of the "Cultural Records" of Xiangxi Prefecture, "puppet show has been introduced into the territory for about 300 years". Xichehe, Jiajiaba, Mengxihu and other places in Longshan County still preserve this ancient drama art. Longshan puppet show belongs to the rod puppet, which was first seen in the Guo family group in Dongping Street, Xichehe Town, which was founded during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, and the Wu family group in the indigo room, and the Chen family group in Liufang, Huatang Township. In the early years of Daoguang, Yujiaban was founded in Jiajiaba, Tashali (now Zhaoshi). At the same time, Yujiaban in Mengxihu, Xiangjiaban in Ersoli, Xiangjiaban in Mingxili, Gaojiaban in Tuche, etc. were founded, and their activities were as far away as Sichuan and Hubei. During the Guangxu period, Yang Dian, a retired class leader of the county government, founded the puppet troupe "Yangjiaban" in Shoushan Town (now Min'an Town, the county seat), commonly known as the "Jinyiban". During the Republic of China period, Guo Bingzhai, the fifth-generation owner of the Guojiaban of Xiche, taught his apprentices Hou Caiyu of Pojiao and Wen Longhai of Yanchong. After completing their studies, he returned to his hometown and founded Houjiaban of Pojiao and Wenjiaban of Yanchong respectively. However, due to wars, banditry, and disasters for many years, the artists lived a "lower nine classes" life that almost relied on charity. In late May 1952, Longshan established the county puppet troupe. The puppet troupe adhered to the literary and artistic principles of "letting a hundred flowers bloom" and "bringing forth the new through the stale", went to the mountains and the countryside, served the rural areas, and performed more than 500 shows a year, which was very popular among the masses. It has played a very good role in enriching the cultural life of the masses, spreading national traditional morality, and promoting the spirit of patriotism. After the outbreak of the "Cultural Revolution", the county puppet troupe was ordered to disband, and all the puppets and costumes were burned. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party, the artists of the original county puppet troupe were properly arranged. In October 1986, Longshan County Cultural Center recruited new young actors to reorganize the Longshan County Puppet Troupe, and trained a group of puppet opera art inheritors for Longshan. So far, the average age of these young actors is only about 40 years old.