Born in 1920 as an only son, Chang was immersed in the world of shadow puppetry from infancy, and even though his father never pressed him to follow in his footsteps, a sense of mission and his own inclinations led him after graduating from high school to make up the fifth generation in a row to carry on the family tradition.
生於民國九年的張德成，是家中獨子，雖然父親張叫未曾要他繼承父業，可是自幼因耳濡目染而激發的興趣及四代傳承的使命感讓他很自然地成為第五代傳人。八歲起隨團演出，十二歲時已有其他戲團請他雕刻皮偶，廿一歲「高升」為主演。