National Celebration: Yunlin's "Qianshui Zhuang" — Inviting Lost Souls Ashore to Voice Their Grievances

By MOOK Travel Life Network, Reported and Compiled by Li Xinyi

 

You may have heard of the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage or the Donggang King Welcome Festival, but "Qianshui Zhuang," which holds equal importance and has been listed as a national-level important folk asset by the Council for Cultural Affairs, is probably unfamiliar to many. Qianshui Zhuang was created to help the souls of those who perished in a major flood in Yunlin during the Qing Dynasty find peace. That flood was considered the worst disaster since Taiwan’s settlement, so severe that even Emperor Daoguang in the Forbidden City at the time ordered disaster relief.

The origin of the Qianshui Chezang (Zhuang) custom stems from the fact that the Kouhu area was historically predominantly settled by immigrants from Quanzhou. After the flood disaster, descendants used the traditional Qianshui Chezang (Zhuang) ritual to honor and help the souls of those who died in the flood. This tradition has been passed down for 167 years. Especially on the seventh and eighth days of the sixth lunar month each year, events such as carrying food offerings to honor ancestors at the Wanshan Ye Temple (Xialiaozi) in Kouhu and Sihu, the Qianshui Chezang (Zhuang) exorcism ceremony at the Xiahugang Wanshan Shrine (Han’aziiao) and Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple, are rich in local folk characteristics. The sight of thousands of shuizhuang lining the temples and roadsides is spectacular, making it one of Taiwan’s most unique and rarely seen ceremonial events.

This year’s Kouhu Qianshui Chezang (Zhuang) Cultural Festival officially kicked off on July 19 and runs through July 26. The main events take place on July 25 and 26. On July 25, at the Kouhu Wanshan Ye Temple (Xialiaozi), there will be cultural performances, food offering processions to honor ancestors, and the lighting of lanterns at the Mass Grave site. The Xiahugang Wanshan Shrine (Han’aziiao) and Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple will both host water lantern release events. On July 26, activities include arranging the shuizhuang, initiating the ritual, leading the shuizhuang, releasing prayer-for-peace kites, holding purification feasts and alms-giving ceremonies, collapsing the structures, and concluding the ritual with burning the shuizhuang. The "initiating the ritual" part involves inviting the spirits to inhabit villagers who volunteer to participate in the ceremony, then bringing them to the temple to voice grievances and find peace—this is the climax of the entire event.

Qianshui Zhuang Event Schedule

Date	Time	Event Details	Venue
July 25 (Wed)	10:30-12:00	Cultural performances, food offering processions to honor ancestors	Kouhu Wanshan Ye Temple (Xialiaozi)
15:00-17:30	Water lantern release (Han’aziiao)	Xiahugang Wanshan Shrine (Han’aziiao)
19:00-21:30	Merit-making, horse liberation ceremony	Xiahugang Wanshan Shrine (Han’aziiao)
19:00-21:00	Mass grave lantern lighting	Kouhu Wanshan Ye Temple (Xialiaozi)
19:00-21:00	Water lantern release (Jinhu)	Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple
22:30-24:00	Horse liberation ceremony	Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple
July 26 (Thu)	6:00-12:00	Arranging the shuizhuang	Xiawan Port Wanshan Shrine (Han’aliao) Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple
10:00-11:00	Public Memorial Ceremony	Xiawan Port Wanshan Shrine (Han’aliao)
15:00-19:00	Scripture Chanting and Confession Rituals, Rituals of Rising and Leading the Spirits, Releasing Peace Kites Purification Feast and General Offering, Ritual of Returning the Tablets, Concluding Ceremony and Burning of Tablets	Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple Xiawan Port Wanshan Shrine (Han’aliao)
19:30-21:00	Li Jingye Puppet Show – Warriors of the Water Battle	Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple
July 27 (Friday)	Morning	Burning of Tablets	Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple