Traditional performances take the stage one after another as the Shenkang Cultural Festival in Taichung kicks off today

By MOOK Travel Life Net / Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

Cultural and artistic events are ongoing across various districts in Taichung. The 101st Shenkang Cultural Festival – Traditional Arts Performance, located in the Shenkang District, will be held every evening from 19:00 to 21:30 at the front of Daming Palace in Shenkang District, starting today until December 9. This series of events coincides with the Daming Palace’s celebration of the Five-Day Grand Ritual for the Blessing and Thanksgiving of Guan Sheng Emperor. As such, each day features different cultural and arts performance troupes, including creative parade teams, community performances, evenings of traditional Chinese music, glove puppetry shows, and the grand finale performance by the Ming Hua Yuan Drama Troupe, offering the public a chance to immerse themselves in this cultural feast.

The most distinctive highlight of this event is the grand finale performance on December 9, featuring the Ming Hua Yuan Drama Troupe in “The Legend of Xue Dingshan.” Through the familiar tale of the legendary opera character Xue Dingshan, the story reveals the inner world behind great figures, affirming the ironclad rule that success depends on 99% effort plus 1% luck. In addition, before the main performance begins, Ming Hua Yuan will present a traditional divine blessing ritual for Guan Sheng Emperor and the deities at Shenkang Daming Palace, featuring the beautiful Immortal Magu, the handsome God of Joy, the majestic Four Great Heavenly Kings, the Eight Guardians, and lively and adorable monkeys of all sizes competing on stage. The climax of the ritual play comes when the God of Joy and Immortal Magu “scatter peace fruits” to the audience, allowing those who catch the candies to share in the blessings of the deities.