Xigang Baotian Gong Temple Renewal Festival — 西港雙張廍保天宮入火安座大典
On September 19th (this year’s moon festival) Xigang’s newly built Baotian Gong was opened. I spent the day photographing the festivities
Xigang Chingan Temple Jishan Bajiajiang — 西港玉敕慶安宮駕前吉善堂八家將
Xigang Chingan Temple Jishan Tang Bajiajiang 西港玉敕慶安宮駕前吉善堂八家將 The official escorts for Xigang Chingan Temple’s main gods, the Lords Qian-sui, who drive demons from the area and perform exorcism rituals in the village. This bajiajiang (Eight General) troupe is locally based and positions in the troupe are often passed
Jishan Bajiajiang 2 — 吉善堂八家將
Jishan Temple Bajiajiang (Eight Generals) 西港吉善堂八家將 A quick note for those not familiar with Taiwan: The symbol on the general’s forehead is not a swastika;
Dalongdong Baoan Temple Censer
Taipei’s Dalongdong Baoan Temple Tian Gong Censer (天公爐). From my old blog, “The Jade Emperor is the highest ranking god in Taiwan’s pantheon but, owing to his exalted position
Bombing Handan 炸寒單
Bombing Handan (炸寒單) is an important folk event held annually in Taidung during Taiwan’s Yuanxiao festival (元宵節.) Lord Handan (寒單爺) is paraded through the streets wearing nothing but shorts and a towel around his head while local shops throw bricks of fireworks at his near naked body. The festival was once suppressed by the government […]
Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival 2013 鹽水蜂炮
This year’s guide and schedule to Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival can be found here: http://www.wumiao.idv.tw/ On the 14th of the first lunar month (Saturday, Feb 23rd Gregorian calendar) a temple parade leaves the Yanshui Wu Temple at 8am. At 6PM there will be three groups of gods (Line A, B and C) leaving from the Yanshui […]
Prayers and Flames: The Burning of the King Boat (Travel in Taiwan)
The Dong Long Temple’s (東隆宮) boat burning ceremony in Donggang (東港) is one of the most popular festivals in Taiwan. For many years
Taiwanese Opera 台灣歌仔戲
Ming Hwa Yuan 明華園 Taiwanese opera troupe performs at a pudu (ceremony of offering for restless spirits) in Tainan. Five temple Jiaow and precursor to boat burning ceremony.
Know your Jiajiang 家將: General Xie 謝將軍
Bajiajiang 八家將 and Shijiajiang’s 什家將 General Xie 謝將軍(xie jiang jun) Jiajiang 家將 are religious temple parade performance troupe members that may be likened to police officers; they search out demon criminals, arrest, interrogate and punish them. They protect certain — usually underworld — gods like Kitsbargha 地藏王, City God 城隍, King of the Broad Marshes […]
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