The beef vendor who skillfully cuts meat and warmly greets customers every day at the market is, in fact, a national treasure-level inheritor of Taiwan's traditional opera stage painting! Taoyuan Deputy Mayor Su Chun-pin revealed on Facebook that Lin Binghuang, affectionately known as 'Master Mingnan,' who runs a humble beef stall in Guishan Market, is the last remaining traditional opera stage painter in northern Taiwan. Many of the iconic backdrop paintings seen at temple puppet theaters across Taiwan were created by his hand.

Lin, whose real name is Binghuang, began his apprenticeship at the age of 15 under the 'Chao Yang School.' Founded by Zhang Chaoyang, a pioneer of Taiwanese folk theater scenery, Lin is now the fourth-generation successor and one of the very few artisans still preserving this traditional craft in northern Taiwan.

Su Chun-pin first met Lin a year ago during a special exhibition at the Taoyuan City Tudigong Cultural Museum. To authentically recreate the atmosphere of traditional opera stages, the museum borrowed stages from renowned puppet troupes such as Taixing Yue, Riri Da, Longxing Pavilion, and New World Fifth. Lin's works, known for their vivid colors and high recognizability, are so treasured by these troupes that they made this rare exhibition possible.

However, this precious traditional art faces serious challenges in the modern world. When Su asked how many full-time opera stage painters remain in Taiwan today, the answer was disheartening: 'Almost none.' Lin admits that despite his years of professional training, his primary livelihood comes not from painting, but from selling beef and handmade dumplings at the market. Su was astonished by this stark contrast—realizing that the man expertly slicing meat and folding dumplings was, in fact, a national treasure-level master artist, reminiscent of the legendary undercover expert in Stephen Chow's film 'The Spy Dad.'

Recently, Su took time to visit the bustling Guishan Market. The stall was busy with customers. What moved him most was seeing that this modest business has successors—Lin's daughter and son help out at the stall on weekends. The daily life of this national treasure is quietly and sincerely woven into the fabric of ordinary community life.

As for the food, Su gave it his full endorsement: the special broth, braised dishes, and handmade beef dumplings are exceptionally delicious. During colder months, they even serve mutton hotpot. When visiting Guishan Market, just look up for the stall with a signboard styled in the vibrant aesthetics of a puppet theater stage—you’ll find this unique, heartwarming artisanal food stall.

Su reflected that 'great masters hide among the people,' and there may be many more unsung heroes like Master Mingnan in Taoyuan’s traditional markets. At the end of his post, he included a hand-drawn tribute card, delicately capturing the daily life of the meat stall, as a gesture of respect to this Taiwanese stage art master.

The post quickly went viral, sparking enthusiastic responses online. Many netizens commented, vowing to visit Guishan Market to try the food. In an age saturated with AI and digital content, the deputy mayor’s handwritten tribute and genuine appreciation for grassroots artisans have rekindled a long-lost sense of authentic human warmth.