Keelung is a port city surrounded by mountains on three sides in northern Taiwan. One of the most iconic events in this small city with a population of about 350,000 is the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival, also known as Keelung Chung-Yuan Festival (雞籠中元祭).
Please watch the following video of the Dazzling Night Scene of Keelung City.
The Ghost Festival is celebrated in the seventh lunar month every year. This month is commonly referred to as Ghost Month by Taiwanese, and it falls between July 29 and August 26 this year.
During Ghost Month, the Main Altar (Zhupu Altar 主普壇), local temples, bridges, downtown Keelung, and public squares are colorfully decorated with lanterns, flags, lights, and other art installations. Additionally, traditional rituals and performances are held throughout this lunar month.
Origin of the Ghost Festival
The origin of the festival can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. A clan conflict over business, land, agriculture, and beliefs between two factions of settlers from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou cities of China’s Fujian Province resulted in heavy casualties in Keelung in 1853.
After a truce was agreed upon, it was decided to bury the bodies of the dead together, and the Laodagong Temple was built to remember the deceased. Fifteen influential local clan associations have taken turns hosting the Chung-Yuan Festival in the years since. This year marks the 168th anniversary of the festival, and the celebrations are planned and organized by the Huang Clan Association.
The Keelung Ghost Festival is the first festival designated by the Taiwanese government as a part of Taiwan’s intangible cultural heritage and is one of 12 major festivals in Taiwan. The highlights of the celebrations for the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival are as follows.
The opening of the Gates of Hell (開龕門)
On the first day of Ghost Month, the Gates of Hell, known as “kanmen (龕門),” are opened at Laodagong Temple (老大公廟) to allow wandering ghosts and spirits of the deceased to enter into the mortal world to enjoy sacrificial offerings until the end of the lunar month. The “kanmen” is simply a small hole in the wall to the left of the temple’s main shrine.
General Salvation (中元普度)
The festive activities culminate on the 15th day of Ghost Month. This is the so-called Chung Yuan Pudu, or General Salvation (中元普度).
In addition to joining a public Taoist prayer held at the Zhupu Temple, some households erect temporary prayer altars in front of their homes or in the corner of a walking path to pay respects and extend offerings to their ancestors, deceased loved ones, or wandering ghosts.
Many households nowadays join the general salvation rituals commonly held in their community on one day during the Ghost Festival.
In the past, residents used to prepare sacrificial pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, and fish for offerings. However, because most people have deemed ritual animal sacrifices too cruel, they thus use cookies, candy, instant noodles, and cans of drink as sacrifices.
The Main Altar (Zhupu Temple 主普壇)
The Zhupu Altar on the top of the popular Zhongzheng Park (中正公園) is dedicated primarily to Keelung Ghost Festival events. Constructed in the 1970s, the Main Altar boasts an ideal location overlooking Keelung City and the harbor. Each year, the hosting clan association is responsible for its beautiful decorations.
The Ghost Festival grand parade
One of the highlights of the celebrations during the festival is a grand parade involving all 15 of the city’s clan associations. Each clan association participates in the parade on the evening of the 14th, before the water lantern releasing ritual at the seashore.
The grand parade included dozens of colorfully decorated floats sponsored by the 15 clan associations, various temples, and other public and civic organizations.
Releasing of the water lanterns (放水燈)
Right after the parade, all the elaborate water lanterns in the shape of a house are transported to the seashore on the outskirts of Keelung. Then, the water lanterns are lit and set adrift.
The water lantern burning ritual is meant to illuminate a path for wandering ghosts in the ocean, guiding them ashore for a feast the following day. It is believed that the further the lantern sails across the sea, the better luck the family will have in the coming year.
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