Tainan City Flower Festival
Jiali Zhongshan Park is one of three big historical parks in Tainan. The park used to be the location of a Japanese shrine, and had historical meaning. It is a good recreation area for the residents because there are many green old trees in the park. In 2011, Tainan City Government conducted a renovation project in Jiali Zhongshan Park. In the projects, it combined the features of Literature of the Saline Land, the exhibition of the development of Soulangh, and Soulangh Incense, and the Hundred-Man Centipedes Formation together and received the Bronze Award in the 2013 International Awards For Liveable Community. Welcome, and come enjoy Jiali District.
Time: Before and after the Spring Festival in the Lunar Calendar.
Location: Jiali Zhongshan Park
Soulangh Incense
Activity outline: The earliest Soulangh incense parade dates back to before 1720 and was suspended over 80 years during Japanese rule. Because of the efforts of local gentry like Chong Pang Wu, Feng Shan Lin and so on, it started to hold the 17 tribes and 24 village religious parade event until 1982, and held the activity again In 1984. It is not until 1987 that the religious ceremony for the Soulangh Incense Five Kings performed every third year resumed, and the Wen-Wang Religious ceremony was held in January in the Chinese calendar every three years. Soulangh incense is one of three Nan Ying incenses. The most attractive array in the Soulangh incense parade is the Hundred-Man Centipede Formation, a parade that has 108 children dressed as 36 Gods and 72 evils as they sit on the centipede pavilion to go around the district. The length of the Hundred-Man Centipede array of the 2011 Soulangh Incense Ceremony was 20.18 meter and became a new Guinness World Records breaker as the world’s longest parade. Once the three-day parade ends smoothly, the religious ceremony is rounded off. Then, we will go to King Boat factory to have the final ceremony, burning the King’s Boat. On that day, believers will together to pull the king’s boat to the burning place under the fire and under the sincere gaze of the believers, the burning boat carrying Qian Sui Ye goes back to heaven. The fallen topmast means the king’s boat has already put out to sea. As a result, every three year Soulangh Incense activity comes to a perfect ending.
Time: Before and after the Lantern Festival every three years (the next Soulangh Incense ceremony will be in 2017)
Location: Center on the “Jin Tang Temple,” and then do a pilgrimage from Jiali District, Sigang District, and Cigu District to Jiangjun District.
Phone to Contact: Jin Tang Temple 06-7226060
Beitouyang Pingpu Cultural Activity
Soulangh group is one of four Siraya groups. Beitou in Pingpu language means “witch,” and “yang” is the livable grazing land. Every year from mid-March to the end of March in the Lunar Calendar, Pingpu clansman will hold the Alitu religious ceremony in a mixed court as well as hold many Pingpu-related cultural activities. According to the report, Soulangh warriors are good at running, so there will be a marathon. Recently, more and more people have participated in the marathon event. The Pingpu Night Rite always gives people a mysterious feeling. There are three important elements in the Pingpu Night Rite, which are “Xiao”, “pig” and “Kan-kei.” The word Xiao in Siraya language has a complex meaning, but here indicates the omnipresent power and is the name of the whole ceremony. “Pig” is an important sacrificial offering in the ceremony. “Kan-kei” is everyone holding hands and forming a circle, singing and dancing some simple dancing steps to not only express the thankfulness of Alitu but to pray for blessings. After the Night Rite, the staff will give the crisp pork to the participants to share their blessing. You are welcome to come to Beitouyang to experience the ceremonies of different cultures.
Time: Every year from mid-March to end of March in the Lunar Calendar
Location: Beitouyang Pingpu Cultural Park
Phone No.: The Developement Association of Shiau-long Group Baitouyang. 06-7238661
The Ceremony of Confucius
Chao Ching Temple, worshiping Confucius, is one of few temples that will hold the ceremony of Confucius in the Tainan area. Every year on Teacher’s Day, Chao Ching Temple will hold the ceremony of Confucius. In the ceremony, young scholars perform the six row dance and recite poems. The whole ceremony is solemn. Moreover, to express respect for Confucius with the “tai lao” as sacrificial offerings, which are a whole pig, whole goat and whole cow. After the ceremony, the participants can pull out the wisdom hair and get the wisdom cake. Let’s get up early on Teacher’s Day and join the Ceremony of Confucius to gain knowledge and broaden your horizons.
Time: September 28 at 7am every year
Location: Chao Ching Temple
Phone No.: 06-7224214