(Chinese New Year News) Both sides of the Taiwan Strait perform "Bai Tiangong" simultaneously and are connected by the same ancestral lineage

　　China News Service, Zhangzhou, February 18th: Title: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait perform "Bai Tiangong" simultaneously and are connected by the same ancestors

　　Author Liao Zhenmei Lin Yanping Zeng Chen

　　"Thank God, I wish you all success, health, safety, and success." Shortly after 0:00 on February 18 (the ninth day of the first lunar month), I attended the "Yuzun Palace" in Zhuli Village, Tianbao Town, Xiangcheng District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. Chen Shengyu, a Taiwanese compatriot who participated in the "Tiangong Birthday" worship ceremony, posted a text and picture in WeChat Moments to pray for good luck in the new year.

Starting at 23:00 on February 17, the "Tiangong Birthday" worship ceremony was held at the Yuzun Palace in Zhuli Village, Tianbao Town, Xiangcheng District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, and people worshiped God devoutly. Photo by Lin Yanping

　　In southern Fujian, every household has the folk custom of "worshiping God on the ninth day of the first lunar month to pray for good luck in the coming year." According to legend, the ninth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the Jade Emperor in folklore. People call this day "Tiangongsheng", and "Tiangong" refers to the Jade Emperor.

　　At 23:00 on February 17th (the eighth day of the first lunar month), as the bells rang at midnight, the Yuzun Palace in Zhuli Village, Tianbao Town, and the Yuzun Palace in Caohu, Yilan, Taiwan, began to hold simultaneous "Tiangong Birthday" worship ceremonies. People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait jointly "worship God" in the same way, praying for good weather and peace for the country and the people in the new year.

　　"In Taiwan, worship begins at 11 p.m. on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. The customs and worship methods on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are the same." That night, Chen Shengyu took his wife and daughter to participate in the "Bai Tiangong" event.

Starting from 23:00 on February 17, the "Tiangong Birthday" worship ceremony was held simultaneously at the Yuzun Palace in Zhuli Village, Tianbao Town, Xiangcheng District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, and the Yuzun Palace in Caohu, Yilan, Taiwan. Various tributes were presented in front of the Yuzun Palace in Zhuli Village, Tianbao Town. Neatly arranged. Photo by Lin Yanping

　　The square in front of Yuzun Palace in Zhuli Village was filled with splendor and crowds of people. More than 600 red tables were arranged in a square array, and various tributes such as five fruits, six fasts, five animals, and red turtle cakes were neatly placed, and fireworks and incense candles complemented each other. Seeing such a popular and grand folk activity, Chen Shengyu felt deeply that "the atmosphere at the scene was warm and the sense of ceremony was strong."

　　Yuzun Palace was built in the Tang Dynasty. It has changed its name four times and moved twice in history. In 1919, Chen Jiongming's troops who aided Fujian and Guangdong were stationed in Zhangzhou. The palaces and temples were destroyed, and only six Panlong stone pillars remained. After discussions among the believers, a simple temple was built in Zhuli Village, Tianbao Town, to welcome the deity and offer ginseng incense to the believers.

　　On November 17, 1992, Li Bingnan, director of the Caohu Yuzun Palace Management Committee in Yilan, Taiwan, led a delegation to visit. On May 16 of the following year, he led an incense delegation of more than 80 people to come and offer incense. Subsequently, the Caohu Yuzun Palace Management Committee in Yilan, Taiwan donated more than RMB 7 million to rebuild the main hall of Yuzun Palace in Zhuli Village. The main hall was completed on January 9, 1999.

　　After reconstruction, the Yuzun Palace has become a link connecting the folk cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Straits. Lin Baoshan, director of the Tianbao Yuzun Palace Management Committee, told China News Service that the Yuzun Palaces on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have maintained close exchanges and interactions since they "seeked relatives and got married." Since 2003, the Yuzun Palace on both sides of the Taiwan Strait has held simultaneous "Tiangong Birthday" worship ceremonies without interruption. Even during the COVID-19 epidemic, online worship ceremonies were also held.

　　"From the traditional custom of worshiping Tiangong together on the ninth day of the first lunar month to the best wishes for the eternal peace of our country through the ages, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family and are connected by the same ancestors." In Lin Baoshan's view, the synchronization of worshiping Tiangong on both sides of the Taiwan Strait further bridges the gap between the two sides. The "bridge between hearts" for communication; the simple and sincere worship ceremony contains not only the flavor of the Southern Fujian New Year that has been remembered for thousands of years, but also the blood and family ties between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait that share the same origin. (over)