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阿勃勒樹下總是生機勃勃，許多快樂的故事在這裡悄然發生。
Wuying Temple in Tainan Holds First Grand Wang Ye Festival in 28 Years with Boat-Burning Ceremony
Reporter Lin Hsien-Yun / Tainan Report
After 28 years, Wuying Temple in Nanchang, Tainan, revived its grand Wang Ye Festival today with a traditional boat-burning ceremony to bless the community. The 5-meter-long Wang Boat, weighing nearly five tons, was escorted by 17 local temples and traditional religious groups and was collectively pulled by worshipers to Anping’s Yuguang Island, where it was ceremoniously burned following prayers. The event drew thousands of onlookers, creating a lively scene as many captured the unique moments of the ceremony.
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (right) and Speaker Qiu Li-li (left)
At 7 a.m., Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che and Speaker Qiu Li-li presided over the ceremonial “navigation” of the Wang Boat from Wuying Temple. The procession quickly grew as more than 2,000 devotees joined along the way, filling the island with a vibrant atmosphere. Local officials, including Civil Affairs Director Jiang Lin-huang, Central and Western District Mayor Cai Jia-fu, Legislators Lin Jun-xian and Chen Ting-fei, and City Councilor Chen Yi-zhen, also participated in the boat-pulling event, symbolizing unity and shared blessings for the community.
The Wang Boat, crafted by master builders Lin Liang-tai and Wang Dong-fu with artist Cao Tian-ju's detailed painting, is one of the largest traditional vessels in Tainan’s old city and cost approximately NT$1.5 million. The boat held a variety of symbolic items, representing a community effort to dispel illness, bless the land, and bring prosperity.
Rob, a German-born son-in-law of Taiwan
One notable attendee was Rob van der Meulen, a Dutch-born son-in-law of Taiwan who now lives in Düsseldorf, Germany, with his Taiwanese wife and son. He expressed his fascination with the intensity and cultural significance of the ritual, finding it remarkably different from the processions in his own culture. Rob mentioned that he would eagerly participate in similar events in the future, underscoring the universal appeal and captivating nature of Taiwan's rich cultural traditions.
According to Lin Bo-yu, Secretary-General of Wuying Temple, a total of 17 temples collaborated in escorting the Wang Boat to signify the communal hope for peace, the end of illness, and blessings. As Yuguang Island approaches a new phase of tourism development, this ceremony will be remembered as the final Wang Boat-burning event held on the island, marking an end to a significant chapter in local history.
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