The Lantern Lighting and Water Lantern Release Ceremony at the Qianshui Zhuang Cultural Festival Takes Place Tonight

Article by / Compiled and Reported by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, Li Xinyi

The Yunlin Qianshui Zhuang Cultural Festival officially enters its highlight phase today (25th) and tomorrow (26th). This morning at 10:30 AM, the event kicked off with the traditional meal-carrying ritual to honor ancestors at the Xialiao Wanshan Ye Temple. Hundreds of local women had prepared dishes and rice, and following a century-old tradition, carried the meal in baskets to the temple for worship. In the evening, a thousand-lantern, ten-thousand-grave memorial and prayer ceremony was held to commemorate the victims of the flood disaster that occurred 167 years ago. The ten-thousand-grave site consists of numerous small earthen mounds, which locals also call “little buns.” In the afternoon and evening, water lantern release ceremonies were also held respectively at Kouhu Hamazailiao Wanshan Tonggui Ancestral Shrine and Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple, marking the beginning of the main rituals for tomorrow’s Qianshui Zhuang Festival.

The Kouhu Qianshui Zhuang Festival is the only folk ritual in Taiwan that originated from an actual historical event. It commemorates the victims of the great flood disaster that occurred on the evening of the 7th and early morning of the 8th day of the 6th lunar month in the 25th year of the Daoguang reign (1845). For 167 years, every 7th and 8th day of the 6th lunar month, rituals such as the meal-carrying ceremony to honor ancestors at the Kouhu and Sihu Wanshan Ye Temples (Xialiaozai), the Qianshui Chezang (Zhuang) soul-liberation ceremonies at the Xiahu Port Wanshan Ancestral Shrine (Hamazailiao) and the Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple have been held. These events are rich in local cultural characteristics, especially with thousands of Qianshui Zhuang (water offerings) displayed in front of temples and along roadsides — a spectacular sight, making it one of Taiwan’s most unique and rarely seen traditional festivals.

Meanwhile, the “Ink Roots of the Water Town – National Calligraphy Masters Invitational Exhibition for Qianshui Zhuang,” featuring works from 148 renowned calligraphers from across the country, is also being held during the festival period at Jinhu Elementary School and Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple, adding a touch of literary artistry to the cultural celebration. In addition, the Yunlin County Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau has specially arranged for the internationally acclaimed glove puppetry master Li Jingye to perform the play “Heroes of the Flood” at 7:30 PM tomorrow evening at the plaza of the Jinhu Wanshan Ye Temple, highlighting the intersection of traditional art and a significant national folk festival, and reflecting the spirit and meaning of the times.

● Read more: National-level Celebration – Yunlin Qianshui Zhuang Festival: Inviting Lost Souls Ashore to Tell Their Grievances

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