Some Chinese scholars believe that contemporary Chinese glove puppetry is still religious, and it shows a certain religious connotation in its performance. While the recent studies on glove puppetry in China academic community have mainly focused on its inheritance, artistic noumenon, industrialization and so forth, few scholars have published the research results on the religious aspect. This has prompted the author to reflect on the social functions of contemporary Chinese puppetry: (1) What are the main social functions of contemporary Chinese glove puppetry? (2) Does contemporary Chinese glove puppetry still have religious nature and connotations? This study mainly uses empirical analysis and literature review methods, based on field investigations, combined with multiple observations of puppetry and existing literature to discuss its main social functions in the current social and cultural environment. The conclusion is that the religious characteristics of this art are gradually weakening, and the recreational and educational functions are gradually increasing.

Keywords: Chinese glove puppetry; socio-cultural functions; religious cultural connotations.