I am in Sigang.

The incense-questing event in Sigang is a famous national tradition

and it is also essential in terms of the religion.

This year is really special

because it is the temple festival year.

Let's go and take a look.

“Sigang's incense-questing event” refers to

an incense-questing pilgrimage held by Cing-an Temple, Sigang.

This incense-questing custom originated

from Guma Temple in Bafen, Sigang,

and Cing-an Temple has been the organizer of the event

since it was held for the 14th time in 1823.

The incense-questing event is held once every three years.

Over time, it has expanded and included

96 villages in its pilgrimage route,

making it “the largest incense-questing pilgrimage” in Taiwan.

Sigang's incense-questing event consists of two parts:

the incense-questing pilgrimage,

and the offering ritual to the god.

The pilgrimage includes a “South-bound Patrol”

to southern Tainan,

a “Welcoming Mazu” ceremony to summon Mazu

in Luermen Tianhou Temple,

and a three-day pilgrimage around the jurisdiction of the deities.

Many of the parades in the pilgrimage are organized

by local residents.

“The offering ritual to the god” includes Taoism rituals,

rituals from the House of the King (Wangye),

and most importantly, the King Boat Festival.

The last step of the festival features the burning of the king boat,

where local residents tow the king boat

to the riverside of Zengwun River

and send off Heavenly Patrol Yuchi (Wangye) to the heavenly palace.

It's a spectacular event.

The incense-questing event in Sigang has a 234-year old history

and is an important national asset of folk culture.

Generally, it takes an entire year in advance

to prepare for the incense-questing event.

Firstly, coordination meetings are held to decide participants,

and then they're ready to make the king boat.

We've been searching

for the wood "tsan" needed to make the boat since March.

"Tsan" is the wood from a banyan tree.

We send ship crafters to

see which tree

is suitable for making a boat.

In other words, "tsan" is the keel of a ship.

One year prior to incense-questing, on Wangye's birthday,

we inquire the deity where we should get "tsan." .

Once the ritual to seek the appropriate “tsan” is completed,

we'll proceed to the production of the king boat

and preparation of Sigang's incense-questing event.

Such preparations include erecting flag and lantern poles

and constructing yamens.

Today the Parade of Centipede Formation,

the Parade of the Eight Beauties,

the Parade of Lioucuo Fangchelun,

and Parade of Horses from Wuhu Pingsi, Dawunliao

are here to set up their canopies.

There are four parades in total.

The Parade of the Eight Beauties from Putuo Temple, Hailiao,

is not a common parade.

The parade features nine horse riders.

The first eight riders are all beautiful ladies,

and the ninth female member plays the male role “Shuchun Liou.”

Such an arrangement tells folks about the story of Shuchun Liou,

a famous figure in Song Dynasty

who wished to marry eight beautiful ladies

and in the end lived a happy ever after life.

One of the parades in setting up canopies is worth noticing:

the Parade of Centipede Formation.

We come from Wangan Temple in Gongwen and Ansi Temple in Sipuliao.

At first, we formed a centipede parade,

and later on we're recognized as the Parade of Centipede Formation.

During the incense-questing event held by Cing-an Temple, Sigang,

we're responsible for patroling and maintaining order for Wangye.

We're the vanguard of Wangye.

The parade is 138 meters in length

and is composed of 70 children.

As the parade proceeds, the children throw out candies to pilgrims.

Pilgrims rush to collect candies

and consider them as a symbol of blessing.

One thing special about the Parade of Centipede Formation is that the roles in the parade

are passed to descendants within the same families.

After a family decided the character they want to play,

such as Tan Taizhong,

the role of Tan Taizhong is then passed down

to descendants within the same family.

Even if the family decides not to play the role anymore,

the role cannot be transferred or given to other families.

The family may choose to return the role to the temple,

but they may also reclaim it whenever they want to.

As the parade grows larger,

new roles are needed and the members

will ask for the deity's permission.

So far we have 70 members in the parade.

The parade grows on the foundation laid by our ancestors.

It only gets larger, not smaller.

It expands

and never shrinks.

It's believed that crossing a centipede parade

may help get rid of back luck,

and therefore lots of pilgrims rush to cross the parade.

Such a behavior is actually quite dangerous.

To protect the pilgrims,

we'll arrange time for pilgrims to cross the parade.

Do not cross the parade in any other time period!

After the canopies are set up,

we're ready for the summoning ceremony.

We will set off at six o'clock in the evening

to the burning place of the king boat to summon Wangye.

In the afternoon, you'll see lots of parades

in Cing-an Temple.

Each parade has its own symbol.

Parades are technically

the vanguards of Wangye.

Staying in front of the Wangye's palanquin

to protect him.

We are the guards of Wangye.

The duty of the Parade of the Eight Generals

is to escort deities as they patrol

as well as capture devils

and ghosts.

The generals' dress and makeup

focuses on facial makeup, religious instruments, and costumes.

Before the parade sets off, makeup artists (mianshi)

will help put on makeup (kailian).

After the people playing the roles of the generals

are completely dressed and finished putting on makeup,

they represent the deities they play.

They are the deities they play.

At 6 PM, parades, the palanquin bearers, and pilgrims

set off on foot to the burning place of the king boat

to prepare for the summoning ceremony.

To summon Wangye, we need to acquire three affirmatives from him

by tossing divination blocks.

Royal Lord (Wangye),

it is time.

May Heavenly Patrol Yuchih grant us

three consecutive divine affirmations through the divination blocks.

Thus, we may return to Cing-an Temple ahead of schedule.

Please grant us a divine affirmation.

One divine affirmation.

After receiving three divine affirmations,

the summoning ceremony is complete.

Everyone is jubilant,

and the parades are dancing.

All are cheerful to welcome Wanyge back to Cing-an Temple.

You can see parades and thrilled folks along the street.

Many foreigners also participated in the entire event!

The event is a great chance to see the four parades of Songjiang:

the Parade of Songjiang, Golden Lion, White Crane, and the Five Tigers.

The complete parade performance can be seen

during the setting up of canopies.

In comparison, these parades may not give performances

during the pilgrimage.

Parades in Sigang's incense-questing event

have ankle bandanas in five different colors:

yellow, red, blue, green, and light green.

You can tell the teacher of the parades

from the color of their ankle bandanas.

For example, the Parade of Golden Lion from Zhuzaigang

and Madouliao and us

all wear green ankle bandanas.

In addition, the Songjiang parade from Bafen wears green ones as well.

So you can tell we are all from the same origin.

We're taught by the same teacher.

The biggest difference between the four parades of Songjiang

lies in their parade leaders.

The Parade of Sonjiang is led by the main flag and two-handed axes,

the Parade of Golden Lion by golden lions,

and the Parade of White Cranes by white cranes of course!

The Parade of White Cranes from Shuzaijiao, Cigu

was established in 1928.

The parade was founded

decided to participate in Sigang's incense-questing event

and safeguard the palanquin of the Wangye of Kang's Clan.

Therefore the white crane parade was founded.

What is special about the white crane parade is

its leaders: the White Crane Master and the White Crane Lad.

The person playing the role of the White Crane Master

has to wear a white crane costume

and act like a white crane when he's walking and running.

The person wearing a kid's mask plays the role of the White Crane Lad,

who leads the white crane parade to dance.

The design and interactive choreography of the white crane parade

is very interesting.

In addition, originating from the Songjiang Parade,

the white crane parade also demonstrates various parade formations.

To pass down the tradition of the white crane parade,

it holds workshops at Shulin Elementary School

to help students understand the parade better.

Sigang's incense-questing event

is an important folk activity in Taiwan.

The event takes place once every three years

and attracts people in Taiwan and from abroad.

People who enjoy photo shooting come here to take nice photos;

people who are fond of crowded places

and activities come here with friends;

and people who are devout to their religions come here to pay tribute.

We all find a purpose to be involved in this event.

Say, when I was in elementary school,

if you asked me,

what Sigang's incense-questing event was,

I'd say it's a time when all of my relatives got home for reunion

and when I had endless food to eat.

This was my Sigang's incense-questing event at that time.

But when I got into junior high school,

things changed.

Whenever the event was held,

the school I studied would take three days off,

and my teacher had no choice but to let us leave.

To local residents in Sigang, although the incense-questing event

has different meanings to individuals of different ages,

one thing remains in common:

the event is an essential part of their lives.

We took a photo of an elder

who worked in the farm.

When he saw the parade where Wwangye's palanquin was in,

he put down his hoe

and kneeled down in the field, far far away.

The photo, in our opinion, is comparable with Millet's L'Angélus.

The grand finale activity in Sigang's incense event

is to send off the king boat and burn it.

The pilgrims tow the king boat by pulling on the ropes

and move it to the venue.

Relevant officers will scatter candies

and golden paper money for gods.

Pilgrims rush to catch as many as they can

seeking the blessings.

At the venue, you'll see piles and piles of tributes.

Often times the king boat has to be carried

to the center of the tribute piles by a crane.

When the masts are erected

and the sails are set,

raging flames start to burn,

sending off Wangye to the heavenly palace,

and calling an end to the incense-questing event.

Sigang's incense-questing event is really spectacular, right?

Next time if you want to join it again,

you have to wait for three more years

because it is a triennial activity.

Next time if you have a chance to visit Sigang,