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

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

Cultural and artistic events are continuously held across various districts in Taichung. The 101st Shenkang Cultural Festival – Traditional Arts Performance, located in Shenkang District, will run from today until December 9th, every evening from 19:00 to 21:30 at the front of Daming Palace in Shenkang District. This series of events coincides with Daming Palace’s celebration of the Five-Day Grand Ritual for the Peace and Thanksgiving of the God Guan Yu, so each day features a different cultural and arts performance troupe. These include creative troupes, community performances, nights 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 on December 9th, featuring the Ming Hua Yuan Drama Troupe’s performance of “The Legend of Xue Dingshan.” Through the well-known legendary opera character Xue Dingshan, the story reveals the inner world behind great figures, affirming the ironclad rule that success comes from 99% effort plus 1% luck. In addition, before the main show begins, Ming Hua Yuan will present a traditional divine blessing ceremony for the God Guan Yu and other deities at Shenkang Daming Palace, featuring beautiful Immortal Magu, handsome God of Joy, majestic Four Heavenly Kings, Eight Guardians, and lively and adorable monkeys of all sizes taking turns to perform. The climax of the ritual opera is 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.