Chapter 13 Religious Ceremonies

Taipei City is a typical immigrant metropolis that celebrates an infusion of religious beliefs, cultures, customs and lifestyles brought by different ethnic groups. The year 2007 also witnessed multifarious and colorful ritual galas and religious ceremonies, such as the 2007 Lantern Festival to complement the last day of the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Soiree for the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Dalongdong Cultural Fair, the ceremonious Hakka Bag Gung, Three Mountain Kings, and Yi-min Ceremonies, the Baosheng Cultural Festival and the Matsu Cultural Festival of Northern that are rich with religious and cultural elements, the aboriginal cultural festivals and the exotic immigrant cultural events. Apart from these activities, the City Government followed out a myriad of innovative ritual measures that broke away from traditional elements in 2007. The city of Taipei is encouraging the promotion of new cultural elements and religious beliefs, and transforming these new energies into a unique Taipei cultural tapestry.

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Taiwan is comprised of diverse cultural elements; it is a place where multiple ethnic groups coexist harmoniously to form a land of amazing beauty and magnificence. Taipei City is arguably the place in Taiwan where these cultures most playfully and vigorously vie for attention and the spotlight. A modernized Taipei City not only exudes local folk flavors, but is always ready to embrace new and diverse cultural ideas. The people of modern Taipei not only pass on traditional customs, inspire innovative visions.

Part 1 Colorful and Vibrant Ceremonial Gatherings A traditional farming society is characterized by many holidays which have been brought over by immigrants from their ancestral homes to Taiwan. Although modern Taipei no longer organizes elaborate and formal ceremonies, we can still witness the fusion of both traditional and innovative practices that have been adapted to modern lifestyles through rituals and religious activities around the seasons, styling them to form a unique religious culture in modern Taipei.

1. The Taipei Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival is a long-standing and well established Chinese holiday, and has always been one of the great annual events for the people of Taiwan. Since time immemorial, the lantern festivals have symbolized the prayers for blessings and the reunion of homefolks. The images and significance of the holiday have also long been deeply embedded in the style and pace of life of Taipei’s citizens. At the 2007 “Taipei Lantern Festival” – Good Fortunes in Taipei and All Is Well, the Taipei City Government sought to improve Taipei’s international visibility by hailing Taipei as a “Healthy City.” Festival mascot, “Pigcolate,” was installed to connect the themes of the various events and lantern areas, including the centerpiece, “All is Well and Perfect,” a 4.5-kilometer-long lantern- dotted tunnel, a splendid and glorious international lantern section, a topical lantern to signify traditional festivities, a students’ lantern section to showcase their creativity in passing on this legacy, and a nighttime paradise lantern section, a riddle arena, the main performance stage, a folk art street and a prayer enclave to spice up the interests and diversity of the great soiree. The event attracted over 6 million visitors from February 24 through March 11 in 2007. The grand occasion was characterized by enchanted, jostling crowds and brightly decorated lanterns. Crowd at the 2007 Taipei Lantern Festival

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2. Singing Near The Shore on the Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15 of the Lunar Calendar is an important holiday in Chinese culture that typifies “The Full Moon and Homefolk Reunions.” The Taipei City Government wanted to design a new festivity, a departure from the usual “Poem Recitals by Riverbanks, Watch the Moon and Enjoy the Breeze,” and so encouraged residents to engage in various recreational activities by the green areas that span the riverside parks. It invited the Department of Civil Affairs to organize a “Singing Near the Shore on the Mid-Autumn Festival” soiree on the eve of the holiday (September 24) and on the day of the Festival (September 25) from 7 pm to 10 pm by the Dajia Riverside Park. The festival was an opportunity to reenact the scene from long ago when whole families and couples would come together onto open fields to watch the moon. It was also a chance to improve Taipei citizens’ understanding of the City Government’s endeavors to create a water-friendly living environment, and take their loved ones out for a joyous holiday. “Singing Near the Shore On the Mid-Autumn Festival” was the first celebration to incorporate the beautiful riverside sights of the in creating a rare performance of water screens and The barbeque party water dances. The Taipei Chinese Orchestra, a local Teachers’ Chinese Symphony, the Riverside Folk Dance Troupe, the Taipei City High School Hip Hop Troupe, the Beauty of Taipei Dance Troupe, and popular singers from the Million Star Gang feted the audience with a string of amazing performances. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, the Department of Civil Affairs Commissioner Huang Lu Ching-ju, and the heads of other departments of the Taipei City Government came to the barbeque area, to chat and enjoy the night with disadvantaged groups, new immigrant families, foreign laborers, surviving families of the army, aborigines, volunteers in the communities and other residents who came to attend the party. The soiree ended on a beautiful note of festivities, a friendly, family mood, the mellifluent music and wonderful dance performances.

3. The 2007 Dalongdong Cultural Fair In 2007, the Management Commission outlined “The 2007 Dalongdong Cultural Fair” with the theme of “Taipei – Dynamic and Benevolent.” The fair started on September 4 and continued through December 15 as a lively, 3-month Confucianist Event

to revive the Dalongdong Area and promote Taipei Foreign students experience the ancient rites of honoring City’s local cultural resources. students

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“Remembrance and Tribute – The Teacher-Honoring Ceremony at the Confucius Temple” was the opening ritual to spread the Confucian spirit of “Honoring Teachers and Virtues” and make “Education Accessible to All.” About 500 teachers and students from various schools and foreign institutes participated in the rite. The Siyi Dance was performed to pay homage to Confucius. Students prepared six gifts: jerky (thanking the teachers), celery (Diligence Shapes Professions), lotus seeds (laborious education process), Chinese red dates (Winning a High Academic Ranking Soon), the longan fruits (consummate and free), and adzuki beans (luck and success) as remuneration, plus a document and the Three Bows and Nine Kowtows to the teachers. The ceremony was designed to create an impression of Taipei City’s “Benevolence” to those in attendance. Sacrificial offerings play a vital role in the offering ceremonies. The Taipei Confucius Temple Management Commission, before the 2007 Confucius Worship Services, first made public the 27 sacrificial offerings. Meanwhile, to carry on the tradition of having young students serving as the Yi and Yue pupils during the ceremony, for the first time in history, Taipei Kai-ping Culinary School students were invited to take part in this tradition to add to the cultural and educational heritage in observing these ceremonies. The presentation of sacrificial offerings every year on the Birthday of Confucius on September 28 is a grand annual occasion at the Confucius Temple. To commemorate the 2,557th birthday of the Great Teacher, Confucius, the Taipei Confucius Temple Management Commission organized the presentation of sacrificial offerings at 6 a.m. on September 28, 2007 at the Dacheng Hall, with Mayor Hau Lung-bin as the chief presenter of offerings, and Commissioner of the Department of Civil Affairs, Huang Lu Ching-ju, as the officiator. Accompanying presenters were jointly served by Confucius School Promotion Organizations from Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. The ceremony was held in observance of the ancient rituals. After

The 928 Sacrificial Offering Ceremony

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the ceremonies, Mayor Hau Lung-bin personally distributed wisdom cakes, cakes in honor of teachers and keepsakes: “Confucius Studies on Your Side” to attendees to partake in the blessings and wisdom endowed by Confucius. To instill a “benevolent” spirit into the Taipei Confucius Temple Management Commission organized a cultural fair: “Frolic in Taipei’s Benevolence,” with educational and entertaining introductions to the audience about appreciating traditional art and Confucian culture. “Confucius Shines – the Confucius Temple Homecoming” from September 29 through 30, 2007 was a channel for exchanging opinions on the core values of the present Confucius temples and the passing down and development of the sacrificial offerings. The event served to strengthen international cultural exchanges and communication in building a Confucius studies interchange network. “The 2007 Dalongdong Cultural Fair” featured the harmonious fusion of diverse cultures and art, including an event that collocates the personalities of Confucius Temples across Taiwan: “Treasures in Confucius Studies: Cultural Relics from Confucian Yi students performed the Yi dance to pay homage to Confucius Temples around Taiwan Exhibition” (September 27 through December 15), the creative “Confucius Congregations: Historic Spots and Delicacies in Dalongdong” (September 27 through December 15), the splendid “Confucius in Elation – Performances by Traditional Art Groups (November 17), the wonderful “Confucius in Action – the Confucius Cup Hip Hop High School Challenge” (November 18), and the colorful and creative “The Confucius Hip Hop – the Benevolent 6-art Party (December 1). The events served to display the tradition, vitality, modernity and internationalization of Confucian culture.

4. The Joint Aboriginal Culture Festivities in Taipei City Currently there are more than 12,000 aborigines from all over Taiwan living in Taipei City. They are far removed from their tribal way of life as they become rooted in metropolitan Taipei. In order to preserve and maintain aboriginal cultures in the metropolitan area, the Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government organized the “2007 Joint Aboriginal Culture Festivities in Taipei City”, combining the efforts of the Taipei City Aboriginal Teachers’ Association, the Republic of China Aboriginal Sports Culture Association, the Aboriginal Vocal Art Troupe, the Mary Bali Art Troupe, and the Aboriginal Voice Club of National Taiwan University. In addition to reconstructing the joyous and boisterous atmosphere of the traditional aboriginal harvest celebration, the Commission hoped to offer solace to the aborigines who have come afar to work in a strange city by enjoying themselves in a merry event. “The Joint Aboriginal Culture Festivities in Taipei City” kicked off on December 15, 2007 at the Taipei Culture and Sports Park. Respected elders from 13 tribes began by praying for prosperity and peace in the country and the society, an act that also symbolized unity in joining forces to drive forward aboriginal

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The Taroko Tribe percussion song and dance performances

affairs and interests in Taiwan. With due solemnity, elders of the Amis Tribe began leading the choir of traditional ceremony songs, and guided fellow townsmen and the public attending the ceremony to start the rally dance. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, the Indigenous Peoples Commission chief Yang Hsin-yi, and the only aboriginal city councilman Li Yin-lai also took part in the dance and brought the event to its climax. Six aboriginal fitness matches followed that fused tradition with aboriginal color: A three-legged race, making sticky rice balls, wood sawing, head and neck gongfu, the Eight Diagrams net and relays. Twenty aboriginal song and dance performances were held The aboriginal sticky rice ball making contest in the afternoon, and then the Amis Tribe and Paiwan Tribe language legacy show brought the festivity to another high point. Many aboriginal handicraft items and farm specialties were sold in booths around the venue, allowing attendees to experience the vibrant aboriginal offerings. Barbeque on slates, braised snails, rice steamed in bamboo and other exotic delicacies hard to find in the city were also on hand. Makeshift workshops were set up around the venue to illustrate aboriginal handicrafts, handmade dyeing and bead stringing. Toward evening, Yang Hsin-yi again invited the audience to follow the lead dancer in the “Ocean and Year of Harvest Song.” The event ended on a high note and the unique experience was embedded in the memory of all who attended. “The Joint Aboriginal Culture Festivities in Taipei City” is one of the can’t-do-without, large-scale annual events sponsored by the Indigenous People Commission. In addition to providing the busy-working aboriginals with an opportunity to socialize with others, the Commission takes great pains to decorate a venue replete with strong tribal and aboriginal styles to allay the homesickness of the aborigines. Aboriginal cultures are now quickly blending into metropolitan Taipei and affecting every citizen; they have helped contribute to the diverse cultural make-up of the City. The indigenous Year of Harvests celebrations are now an indispensable part of life in Taipei.

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Part 2 Dignified Rites of Thanksgiving Taiwan’s temple festival culture has become a source of strength to immigrants in settling down in a new place; it also helps build roots in developing a metropolitan identity. Deities worshipped by religious faithful either personify dignified morals, or embody great symbols of loyalty, duty, integrity and righteousness. They are revered by worshipers and have become the objects of a strong emotional bond. The religious festivals are held in different seasons in Taipei City to satisfy the demands of people of various religious backgrounds.

1. The Hakka Bag Gung Ceremony The Chang Qing Temple is located on Jinjiang The Endearing Bag Gung Religion Street in the Guting District, and has over 210 years of history. In 1983, local residents of both Hakka and Fujian To celebrate the birthday of the heritage pooled donations to finance its expansion, Earth God is special religion in and helped achieve its imposing stature today. In Taiwan. The Earth God also known recent decades, due to the supportive participation of as ,Fu Te, the God of Land and called Hakka elders in temple affairs, the Chang Qing Temple “Bag Gung” (an endearing term has become the most important stronghold of the meaning "uncle") by the Hakka is the Hakka Bag Gung religion in the greater Taipei area. To god of managing the earth. According express its gratitude for encouraging solidarity among to above-mentioning, we can feel the Hakka constituents, starting in 2004, the Hakka Affairs Hakka regard the patron god of the Commission of Taipei began to celebrate the “Birth earth as the benign uncle . of Bag Gung” on the second day of the second lunar calendar month at the Chang Qing Temple on Jinjiang Street in conjunction with Hakka organizations and local residents to celebrate the Earth God’s birthday. A wealth of textual research has been devoted to the worship ceremonies. The rituals were designed for the sky and gods, and served as a foundation for later Bag Gung worship services.

2. The Hakka Three Mountain Kings Ceremony A popular saying goes, “A place without the Three Mountain Kings Temple is not necessarily uninhabited by Hakkas; but a place with the Three Mountain Kings Temple will always have Hakka residents.” From here we can infer that even though the Three Mountain Kings religion is not an exclusively Hakka faith, yet in Taiwan, it serves as the foundation for the Hakka faith. The Three Mountain Kings were the patron gods of the Hakka immigrants from Chaozhou. The religion began to spread throughout Taiwan along with the immigrants to other ethnic groups. Every year during the Three Mountain Kings’ birthday celebrations, fellow Hakkas travel to Three Mountain Kings temples throughout Taipei to worship and pray for peace.

3. Baosheng Cultural Festival To exalt traditional local folk customs and celebrate the birthday of Baosheng Dadi, the Department of Civil Affairs and the Baoan Temple of Dalongdong collaborate to sponsor the annual “Baosheng Cultural Festival” that takes place during March of the lunar calendar. This 2-month festival combines religious activities with folk arts, and has become one of the biggest, the most celebrated and leading traditional temple fairs, and an index with which one measures traditional temple festivals in Northern Taiwan. Starting on April 21 (March 5 of the lunar calendar), the show, “Folk Play The Surname Show” was staged at the

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Baoan Temple Garden Square for nearly a month, with famed theater troupes, famous Gezai opera societies, and school clubs gracing the occasion with performances. On the morning of April 30, 2007, folk cultural arts, competitions and performances were held; folk cultural art groups from all over Taiwan constituted dozens of circuit teams, and released the fire lion. The stomach of the fire lion was rigged with tens of thousands of beehive rockets, waiting to be ignited to light up the sky. On the following day, the folk custom of “crossing fire” was performed, Folk art performance troupes from around the country a demonstration of the power of the gods. Apart from the various traditional festivities, the Baoan Temple organized artistic activities to record the “Baosheng Cultural Festival”, Baosheng Dadi including photography and sketching competitions, and conducted religious Baosheng Dadi’s surname was Wu, and was seminars and medical clinics offering free respectfully referred to as Tao; he was also known treatment and academic workshops. as Huaji, and Yundong. Born in Baijiao of Tongan County, Chuanzhou Prefecture of Fujian 4. Taipei Hakka Yi-min Ceremony Province, he is generally and respectfully called “The Yi-min Festival” falls on July 20 Baosheng Dadi. In Taiwan’s folk customs, he is at (Lunar calendar). Every year during “the times referred to as Wu Zhenren, Wu Zhenjun, Yi-min Festival”, the Hakka communities Teacher Zhenren, Dadaogong, or Dadao Zhenren. in Taipei invite the Xinpu Yi-min Regardless of the different names, he’s loved and Main Temple up North to pray for blessings worshipped for his masterful art of healing and his for Hakkas who travel far away from their devotion to serving the public for centuries. He is homeland. Since 1988, the festival has also a saint who has acquired the spiritual truth of grown in stature, and has amassed a greater Buddhism.

Yi-min Ye welcomed The Hakka opera

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following; from August 25 through 26, 2007, representative from 20 temples, from 9 counties and cities and 19 townships and villages, including Xinpu Fangliao Main Temple, Guanxi, , , , Pingzhen, Miaoli, , Sanwan, , Shitan, Dahu, Nanhu, Dongshi in Taizhong, Pingdong’s Liudui Temple, Xindian, Zhonghe in Taipei, in Nantou, Jiayi, Fenglin, Shenshan in Yonghe allgathered at the Civic Plaza by the Taipei City Government to hold their grand prayer ceremony, an exceptionally grand occasion. The Hakka Cultural Academy The series of festival activities included a procession of Yi-min Ye, the carrying of a load of fresh rice for presentation, the main ceremony, and the offering of sacrifices following the three presentations of sacrificial rites, and the five presentations of offerings and burnt incense. The highlight of the activities was the creative sacred pig ritual presented by various clubs, and children’s paintings of the pigs. Each of the Hakka organizations pulled no punches in putting their creativity to the test and in producing their own version of the sacred pig. The children’s

The Origin of the Yi-min Ceremony

The Yi-min ceremony falls on July 20 of the lunar calendar; it is a unique religious faith created by the Hakka ethnic group in Taiwan. The Yi-min Ceremony originated during the colonial period under the Qin rule. Zhu Yi-gui, Lin Shuang-wen and Dai Chao-chun in Taiwan launched civic revolts. At that time, the Hakka ancestors who gave up their lives for protecting their land were credited by the officials as having rendered meritorious service to suppress bandits. Emperor Qianlong therefore conferred inscribed boards to these loyal people (Yi-min). The locals then built temples for these Court-designated “Yi-min’s”, “Loyal’s/Zhongyi” and “Great Warriors/ Baozhong,” whose spirit of laying down their lives for others was commended. Though having to relocate to other places, Hakkas in Taiwan still maintain their practice of building branch temples (Yi-min, Baozhong, and Zhongyi) from the main Xinpu Yi-min establishment, and organize their own worship ceremonies. Therefore, “Yi-min” and “Baozhong” have become the symbols of the Hakka people, who often appoint themselves as the offspring of Yi-min Ye. Yi-min Ye naturally became the stronghold of the religious faith. In 1955, the Government designated July 20 on the lunar calendar as the Yi-min Festival. In light of hardships endured by their ancestors when protecting the homeland, the Hakkas, when organizing Yi-min ceremonies, first establish a general altar for those who died on the battlefield and those innocents who perished back then, to offer sacrifices to souls of the deceased.

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paintings were vibrant and innovative. Through this series of activities, the audience was given an opportunity to explore the religious veins of traditional Hakka faiths and extend their cultures.

5. The Matsu Cultural Festival of Northern Taiwan “The Heavenly Queen Mother (Matsu)” is the goddess of the Sea according to folk beliefs who protects the safety of fishermen and fishing vessels. Taiwan is surrounded by the ocean from all sides, and since long ago, all the undertakings associated with the ocean have embraced Matsu. The Matsu religious belief has spread all over Taiwan, and personifies the rich cultural and social tradition. The Taipei City Government since 2004 has continuously organized the annual reception of Matsu from her original place of worship in the . Beginning in 2006, the governments of the eight counties and cities in Northern Taiwan have joined hands to expand the stature of the “Matsu Cultural Festival “Dragon and Lion Drumbs to Welcome Matsu” by of Northern Taiwan.” gold medalist photographer (by Xu Jian-lin)

“Dragon and Lion Drumbs to Welcome Matsu” by gold medalist photographer (by Xu Jian-lin)

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“The Matsu Cultural Festival of Northern Taiwan” kicked off amid much fanfare and was held from September 16 through 23, 2007 as “The Taipei City Joint Worship Ceremony.” It featured the “Stomp the Street Parade” that consisted of folk art performance troupes and the deity palanquin procession, the solemn “Praying for Peace Ritual” held by various temples, and the “Folkway Theater,” put together by outstanding art and performance groups in Taiwan. During the festival, scholars and experts were invited to organize festivities such as “Creative, Peace and Fortune Tournament,” “The Matsu Image Photography Match,” “The Matsu Cultural History Exhibition” and “Folk Cultural Heritage and Development Seminars and Practical Field Inspection Workshops.” The repertoire was diverse and colorful. Through the cross-county and inter-city organizations of the Matsu religious events, interchange was encouraged among religious temples located in the 8 counties and cities in Northern Taiwan. The festival also serves as an opportunity to enhance understanding of the traditional temple festival culture, and preserve folk art. By means of the source integration of temples and administrative agencies, these cross-county and inter-city temple festivals have contributed to exchanges in cities and townships, and the enlivening of folk beliefs, interactions and learning.

Part 3 Foreign Ceremonies and Rituals in Taipei There are now about more than 30,000 recently arrived immigrants in Taipei City. To encourage interaction and exchange, the Department of Civil Affairs every year organizes activities associated with new immigrants, and the public is growing more and more enthusiastic about participating in these occasions, which have become an annual gala for new immigrants everywhere.

1. Reunion Dinners for the Chinese New Year The Chinese New Year is arguably the most special traditional holiday in Taiwan, one that represents the end of the year, and the beginning of a new year. The Department of Civil Affairs, Taipei City Government, promoted the import of reunion dinners and held a “New Immigrant Reunion Dinners to Welcome the Chinese New Year” on New Year’s Eve, inviting recently arrived immigrant families from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Mainland China. The Department also helped foster a better understanding of festivals and holidays in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia for all present during the course of the dinner. On February 9, 2007, the Department of Civil Affairs held a dinner party at the Taipei City New Immigrant’s Hall (), with 73 new immigrants from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Mainland China who partook in the reunion feast with mayor Hau Lung-bin. These new immigrants also spiced up the party with Southeast-Asian cuisine specialties, such as friend chicken with yellow ginger, fried shrimp with chili sauce, Vietnamese rice dumplings, Chinese hors d’oeuvres, Thai fried he fen, and chicken soup with yellow ginger. The international delights felt like a trip overseas filled with attractive sights, sounds and smells. Dinner guests New immigrants welcome the New Year

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were also privileged to get to learn about the holidays in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. On that day the new immigrant representatives presented “Happy New Year” couplets to Mayor Hau Lung-bin in their own languages. The event was jazzed up with splendid Vietnamese and Indonesian dance performances, and filled with rich Southeast-Asian flavors.

2. Thailand's Songkran Festival: Celebrating Thai Culture with a Splash To allay the homesickness of Thai laborers and new immigrants, the Department of Civil Affairs and the Taipei City Government kicked off “Thailand’s Songkran Festival” on April 14, 2007 at the North Plaza by the Red Theater in Ximenting. They celebrated the Thai holiday with friends from Thailand, new immigrants, and Taipei residents. The Taipei City Government helped the public enjoy the multifaceted international cultures through the fun festivities. On the day of the Festival, Mayor Hau Lung-bin, the Department of Labor Commissioner Su Yin- kuei, and Huang Lu Ching-ju of the Department of Civil Affairs donned traditional Thai costumes, and invited Saban-Nga, a world-class traditional dance troupe from Thailand, to officiate over the traditional throwing of water. The event also featured independent bands that exuded the youthful energy of Ximenting, a Dominican-style individual dance, the coconut-shell dance by Indonesian visitors, plus a succession of wonderful presentations by the New Immigrant Performance Workshop. The audience was also treated to great food, a freestyle bazaar, prize-drawing and quiz sessions. The highlight at the end of the event was the “Songkran blessings”. Participating members of the public, foreign laborers and new immigrants congregated to wish each other a happy holiday using the most universal language of gestures, and together welcomed the exotic World-class Thai dance troupe formed benedictions.

3. Essays by New Immigrants and the Cross-Cultural Family Selection and Commendation “Taipei-the New Hometown” essay writing and cross-cultural family commendation ceremony lasted nearly 2 months, with about 200 contestants vying fiercely for the title. On December 2, 2007, final results were announced at the Taipei City New Immigrant’s Hall (in Wanhua). Li Liao Hui-qing from Vietnam took first-place honors in the essay writing competition in the Mandarin Chinese category; another Vietnamese, Chen Shi- lan, was tops in the mother tongue category. The Thai Songkran Prayer for Blessing Ritual Nguyen Ting-han and others from 10 cross-

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cultural marriages were commended for running successful families. During the essay writing contest, new immigrants detailed their nostalgia for their homes with smooth and emotional strokes, their experience in working in a foreign country, and their expectations for their marriages and families. The tales they told were understatedly sentimental and touching, striking a chord in the readers; from the competition one got a glimpse of the hardships that these cross-cultural families have had to overcome in dealing with cultural and language differences, and Commissioner Huang Lu Ching-ju Ching-ju took a photo with award winners their efforts in securing hard-won happiness and success for their families and marriages. Apart from commending the 34 award-winning new immigrants and cross-cultural families, title-holder Li Liao Hui-qing of the Mandarin Chinese category and Chen Shi-lan of the mother tongue category recited their essays. Chen Shi-lan, a Vietnamese bride, read her article with poetic punctuations and emotions, as she expressed her longings for her deceased husband and her love for her children. The audience was moved deeply by Chen’s beautiful rendition of her heartfelt thoughts. The Department of Civil Affairs compiled the award-winning essays and tales of the families into one book, so these new immigrant friends can leave a memorable mark on Taipei City history.

Part 4 Progressive Ceremonial Innovations The Taipei City Government has introduced innovative ceremonial measures in observing the changing times to meet the people’s various demands.

1. Centralized Collection and Burning of Paper Money It has been eight years since the centralized collection and burning of paper money was launched for the Ghost Festival, and the measure has delivered growingly impressive effects over the years. To further cut down on air pollution caused by the burning of paper money, the Department of Civil Affairs continued to promote the centralized the burning of paper money in 2006 at temples and among religious groups in the city, in the hope of changing believers’ habits of personally burning paper money. In order to ameliorate it effectiveness and make the centralized collection and burning of paper money a standard practice involving every household in the city, Taipei’s citizens joined hands in implementing the practice. The amount of paper money collected in 2007 has grown to 780.83 metric tons, far more than the 636.48 metric tons in 2006, a clear indication that the movement has been widely accepted, and that the traditional worship practices have been transformed over the passage of time. Apart from that, in light of the fact that “No Burning Paper Money” is the ultimate expression of religious piety and one that upholds environmental protection practice, the Department of Civil Affairs is now actively promoting awareness of “Reducing the Amount of Paper Money and Incense Sticks,” in order to proceed from “collective burning” to “reduced burning” and eventually to “no burning.” The Department judicially promotes ideas such as “One Furnace in One Hall, One Incense Stick in One Furnace,” to “One

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Furnace in One Temple”, starting from “educating the people” as a stepping stone, to reeducating the public, to ameliorating folk customs, to arrive at environmentally sound practices as the ultimate goal.

2. Joint Sea Burial To promote environmentally friendly burial practices and encourage mortuary and interment service reforms, the City Government and the Taipei County Government held a joint burial at sea on May 2 for 15 and 13 deceased persons from the City and Taipei County, respectively, plus their family members. Attendees boarded a boat that sailed out to waters 6,000 meters away from the port’s breakwater. Staff members led the family members for a prayer, who then tossed the urns and flowers overboard. The family members prayed silently as they watched the urns sinking into the sea. Every member said silent prayers that the ashes of the departed would be joined by the ocean as one, and that every spindrift could lead their loved ones toward the gates of heaven.

3. Plaque-Presentation Ceremony for the Tree Burial Area in Yongai Garden The Taipei City Government is a pioneer in promoting environmentally friendly burial practices such as tree burials and sprinkle burials. On November 10, 2003, the first tree burial test-run area was set up, and by December 31, 2007, a total of 873 departed from various cities and counties were given tree and sprinkle burials here. Since the public is becoming more accepting of natural and environmentally functional burial services, the demand has grown, and the original tree burial demonstration site by the Fude Mausoleum is completely filled, so a new tree burial site was designed. The new burial site features tree and sprinkle burials, environmental functionality, landscaping and ecological restoration functions. About 1.2 hectares would be available for use, offering 6,000 tree burial sites. About 300 sandalwoods, sweet osmanthus, cherry blossoms, yulans, and Malay cedars were planted; another 3,000 plants and shrub flowers were grown to beautify the garden. It is as if the tree-buried departed are sleeping in a scenic paradise of natural beauty. A name solicitation activity was launched in April, 2007 for the new tree burial site. The public was encouraged to submit writings and vote. Ms. Lei Xiang-ling, a pharmacist from Taipei City provided the title, “Yongai Garden,” which was chosen to be the name of the site. On July 19, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung- bin presided over the plaque presentation ceremony. On that day, a tree burial service was held for ashes of three departed souls. The site was decorated with fresh flowers, while soft music was heard in the background. The Taipei Mortuary Services Office prepared prayer cards, allowing family members to write down their thoughts for the departed family members. Volunteers provided more than 100 paper cranes, assisting family members in communicating their heartfelt blessings to those buried under the trees. Amid the soft voice of the emcee reading the prayer cards and the music, family members buried the ashes of their loved ones in the tree holes, and covered the sites with petals. Mayor Hau Lung-bin presented flowers to the deceased and gave his regards to the families in concluding the tree burial ceremony.

4. The Establishment of Taiwan’s First Sprinkle Burial Site for Pets Taipei City also set up Taiwan’s first Sprinkle Burial Site for Pets,“The Secret Garden”, next to Yongai Garden’s tree burial section. “The Secret Garden” measures about 500 pings, with two parks in total. The outer ring is made up of purple cigar flowers, and the inner section is decked out in yellow Arachis duranensis. The edge is dotted by short wood fences and palings. The Mortuary Services Office chose multicolored pinwheels, sunflowers and toy puppies to decorate the garden. It also installed a small cabin so that the pets can have a home to go to. The overall design of “The Secret Garden” blends into the small landscaped pond, a scenic terrace and other natural elements. Yongai Garden and the Sprinkle Site for Pets make ideal neighbors for the community.

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Sprinkle Burial Sites for pets

5. The Taipei Joint Matrimonial Ceremonies To improve social morals and promote economical wedding ceremonies, Taipei City introduced demonstrative nuptials by organizing “The Taipei Joint Matrimonial Ceremonies” since 1972 (formally known as communal marriages). The practice has enjoyed great popularity. The “2007 Taipei Joint Matrimonial Ceremonies” was themed “Flower Nuptials Taipei,” using various flowers-Calla, hydrangeas, sunflowers, and roses to symbolize the love images for spring, summer, autumn and winter. Four brand new joint matrimonial ceremonies, including “I Came Across Eternity When I Met You” on March 31, “True Love in a Full Circle” on May 12, “Running Towards “Our Rosy Destiny” – group photo

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“I Came Across Eternity When I Met You” – a proposal ceremony

Happiness in the Morning Sun” on July 8, and “Our Rosy Destiny” on October 14. At the ceremonies 373 couples were married, among which, “Our Rosy Future” was the first joint matrimonial ceremony held on ice in Taipei City, and attracted 133 newlyweds.

Traditional agricultural communities lived by the 24 solar terms; and many holidays were related to folk activities associated with farming, religious faiths and social entertainments around the year, providing a panoramic view of lifestyles of the masses. Folk religion fusing Buddhist and Taoist beliefs has long been the center of the life of the people. Modern religious faiths and ceremonial cultures in Taipei City have carried on the traditional styles, become more diverse with the infusion of customs brought in by immigrants, and present a new look with fresh ideas and new conventions. The various religious ceremonies staged in Taipei City remain a crucial link to the life of Taipei’s citizenry, and are being reborn into a new vision unique to Taipei with the changing tides of time.

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