The Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival (雞籠中元祭), also known as Keelung Chung-Yuan Festival, is one of the most iconic events in this small port city in northern Taiwan. It is a captivating event that bridges the realms of the living and the deceased.
Deeply rooted in the city’s rich history, this enchanting event has a profound meaning and offers a glimpse into the intricate interplay between tradition, spirituality, and community. It is also the time for local people to pay homage to their ancestors and wandering spirits.
The Ghost Festival is celebrated every year in the seventh lunar month. This month is commonly referred to by the Taiwanese as Ghost Month, and this year it falls between August 16 and September 14.
Please watch the following video of the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival.
During Ghost Month, the city is transformed into a realm of ethereal beauty, with colorful lanterns adorning the streets and the scent of incense filling the air. In particular, the Main Altar (Zhupu Altar 主普壇) is meticulously decorated with twinkling lights, creating a sacred and solemn atmosphere.
On top of that, local temples, streets, and bridges in downtown Keelung, as well as many public squares, are decorated with lanterns, flags, lights, and other art installations.
The 2023 Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival is marked by a series of intricate rituals designed to honor deceased ancestors and appease wandering spirits. The centerpieces of the festival include the opening of the Gates of Hell (開龕門), the grand parade, general salvation (中元普度), and the release of water lanterns, etc.
The cultural significance of the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival
The Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival is of great significance in Buddhism and Taoism. It is believed to be the time to allow spirits to return to the mortal world when the gates of the underworld open.
The origins 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 the cities of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou in Fujian Province led to heavy casualties in Keelung in 1853.
After a ceasefire was agreed upon, it was decided to bury the bodies of the dead together, and the Laodagong Temple was built to commemorate the dead. Since then, 15 influential local clan associations have taken turns to host the Keelung Chung-Yuan Festival. This year marks the 169th anniversary of the festival and the celebrations are planned and organized by the Guo Clan Association.
The 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 opening of the Gates of Hell (開龕門)
Kanmen (龕門), which symbolizes the Gate of Hell in a local temple called Laodagong Temple (老大公廟), is opened on the first day of the lunar month. The ceremony is usually presided over by the mayor of Keelung City and the chairman of the clan association in charge of the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival that year.
This would allow the wandering ghosts and spirits of the deceased to roam freely and enjoy offerings in the mortal world until the end of the lunar month. In reality, this “kanmen” is simply a small hole in the wall to the left of the temple’s main shrine.
The 2023 Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival grand parade
The grand parade is a visual extravaganza, featuring captivating processions, traditional performing arts, and elaborately decorated floats. It is traditionally held on the evening of the 14th day of the 7th lunar month, before the ritual of releasing the water lanterns by the sea.
Sponsored by the 15 clan associations, spiritual groups, and other public and civic organizations, dozens of colorfully decorated floats take part in the grand parade, immersing the entire city in a carnival-like festive atmosphere.
General Salvation (中元普度)
One of the most significant aspects of the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival is the General Salvation, also known as “Zhongyuan Pudu” (中元普度) in Chinese. It is mainly held at the Main Altar (Zhupu Temple 主普壇) in Zhongzheng Park on the 15th day of this lunar Month.
During this solemn ceremony, people perform acts of mercy and rituals to help alleviate the suffering of wandering souls. By making offerings, reciting sutras, and offering prayers for the deceased, the aim is to comfort the souls and help them find peace and move on to the afterlife.
In addition to the public Taoist prayer held at the Zhupu Temple, many households also set up temporary prayer altars outside their homes or shops, or at the corner of a footpath, to pay respects and make offerings to their ancestors, deceased loved ones, and wandering spirits.
As the General Salvation Ritual is a deeply rooted spiritual and touching tradition, many households nowadays also join the General Salvation Ritual held in their community on a day during the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival.
Releasing of the water lanterns (放水燈)
Immediately after the parade, all the elaborate house-shaped water lanterns are taken to the seashore on the outskirts of Keelung. The lanterns are then lit and set adrift.
The lantern-burning ritual is said to light a path for wandering spirits in the sea, leading them ashore for a feast the next day. It is believed that the farther the lantern travels across the sea, the better the family’s fortunes will be in the coming year.
Conclusion
With lanterns lighting up the night sky and offerings adorning tables, the 2023 Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival creates a vibrant tapestry of culture, spirituality, and connection. The grand festivities also allow visitors to experience a captivating journey into the realm of traditions, spirituality, and cultural heritage.
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