Hsuehchia Ciji Temple

High stilts team

　 Date  : 11th ~ 15th day of the third lunar month
　 Place: Ciji Temple, Hsuehchia, Tainan County

      The Ciji Temple of Hsuehchia, Tainan County, where people worship Bao Sheng Da Di, is the oldest Ciji Temple in Taiwan, listed as first class historical building by the government. In the past, the residents of the township went back to Beijiao, Fujian Province in China to visit the parent temple on the birthday of Bao Sheng Da Di in a ceremony known as "Visit to Baijiao." This custom continued for around 260 years long. It was discontinued due to Japanese occupation of the island. Since that time, the activities of "Visit to Baijiao" have developed into a memorial prayer ceremony conducted far away at the Ciji Temple in Taiwan.

      In order to give the spirit of Bao Sheng Da Di enough time to travel back across the strait, the ceremony starts four days before its birthday, on the 11th day of the third lunar calendar. People come from every part of Taiwan bearing josses from different temples on sedan chairs, arriving along with dozens of festival troupes. They all assemble on the square in front of Ciji Temple to form a procession that travels to the bank of the General River, where Bao Sheng Da Ai first landed on Taiwan. The procession of pilgrims is an ensemble of festival troupes, including the majestic Sung Jiang battle arrays, eight general troupe, high stilts team, amusing bullfight performance troupe, man in lady's dress playing troupe, flower drums, niu li, and chegu performers, suona troupe, big drums troupe, dragon and lion dances, as well as the various floating art display pavilions. The most eye-catching procession is the centipede troupe, which extends several meters in length. It features 36 linked chairs with a child dressed in the ancient costume of a celestial sitting on each one. The worshipers kneel on the ground as the centipede troupe passes over their heads, in belief that they will be blessed for safety and peace.

      The residents of Hsuehchia Township express cherished memories of their ancestors and the past through the tradition of the "Visit to Baijiao." This ceremony is now an annual occurrence that has developed into the most magnificent local event in Hsuehchia.