China News Service, February 23 (Xinhua) Comprehensive report: The Tainan Yanshui Bee Cannon Activity held a cannon launching ceremony at the Yanshui Wu Temple on the morning of the 23rd, and then started a 2-day and 2-night itinerary of mikoshi walking around the border in five routes. Cannons were fired one after another along the way. Cast, attracting many people who love excitement to join the detour team.
Taiwanese Lantern Festival folk activities such as "Handan", sky lantern releasing, and lantern viewing parties are also reaching their climax...
According to legend, salt water bee cannons originated during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. People prayed to Emperor Guan Sheng to "go out" on the Lantern Festival night to go around the country and drive away the plague. Later, it evolved into the centralized use of bee cannons.
The bee cannon scene is lively, but it is also dangerous. Relevant authorities remind tourists to take protective measures every year.
Data map: Salt water bee cannon.
Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Dongming
Tainan Mayor Huang Weizhe presided over the cannon launching ceremony in the morning and said in his speech that salt water bee cannons are a historical folk activity to pray for the health of the people, good weather in Tainan and the elimination of epidemics.
After Huang Weizhe and others set off the first string of firecrackers, the shrine parade of Yanshui Martial Temple set off one after another in five routes. Along the way, many people placed incense tables at the door of their homes to pray and greet. There were businessmen who made bee firecrackers or ordinary people at the shrine. When the palanquin team arrives, they push out the cannon city and fire it at the mikoshi and the surrounding teams. When the large cannon city is launched, it always attracts a large number of people and tourists to watch.
According to statistics from the Yanshui Martial Arts Temple, more than 300 artillery forts have been registered this year, which is a lot more than last year. The detour route will be concentrated on the streets of downtown Yanshui on the evening of the 24th, which will be the climax of the event. The main artillery city produced by the Martial Arts Temple will be held at 9:30 p.m. The spray will be released in the centralized release area of Yanyan High School, and since the 24th is a weekend holiday, it is expected that there will be a large influx of tourists.
The Tainan City Government pointed out that the main cannon city of this year's salt water bee cannon event "Auspicious Dragon Presents Auspiciousness" is equipped with 2 million bee cannons. When launched, Taiwanese people and tourists will feel the shocking power and beauty of salt water bee cannons and experience the rich folk customs. Cultural Features.
In addition to salt water bee cannons, Taiwan also has special Lantern Festival activities such as "Han Dan", sky lantern releases, and lantern viewing parties.
Fried Handan.
Image source: Photo by Cai Minyu, Taiwan China News Network
According to legend, infectious diseases often occurred in Taitung in the early years. People welcomed "Handan Ye" (also known as "Handan Ye") during the Lantern Festival, hoping that the smoke from firecrackers would drive away the disease.
The ceremony of bombing "Handan Ye" in Taitung involves a real person playing the role of "Handan in the flesh", standing on a wicker chair commonly known as "soft sedan", and being carried by four sedan bearers through the streets and alleys. Believers and shopkeepers lit firecrackers or tied firecrackers to bamboo poles and "bombed" "Han Dan Ye".
According to folklore, the more firecrackers explode, the better the fortune will be for that year.
2024 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Image source: Provided by Taiwan United News Network and New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau
Every year during the Lantern Festival, a large number of tourists flock to Pingxi, New Taipei, to write down their wishes and release sky lanterns.
"Sky lantern" is homophonic to "Tian Ding" in the Hokkien dialect.
It is said that in the early days it meant praying for a prosperous population, but later it carried various blessing meanings such as making wishes and ensuring peace.
It was brought to Taiwan by the ancestors of Fujian during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, and now it has become one of the classic activities of the Baodao Lantern Festival.
2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival.
The "2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival" will also be held in Tainan City on February 24, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.
The main lantern is named "Dragon Comes to Taiwan", and its creative inspiration comes from the shape of a flying dragon on the stone pillars in front of the Queen's Palace in Tainan. The main body of the dragon shape is 18 meters high, and the total height including the base is 22 meters.
The lantern festival also specially prepared creative toys such as "Little Dragon Bags" that can be carried on the body for children.
Counties and cities will also hold a series of lantern festivals.
Lantern Festival folk activities across Taiwan are mostly related to people's best wishes at the beginning of the year to pray for good fortune, eliminate epidemics, good luck and peace.
After the Lantern Festival, people think that the New Year is truly over.