Burning the Wangye Boat
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2019 / February
Jimmy Lin /photos courtesy of Jimmy Lin /tr. by Jonathan Barnard
In the early morning, worshippers coming from near and far gather on a beach at Zhenhai Park in Pingtung’s Donggang, to celebrate the return of Qiansui and the other Wangye deities from their eight-day pilgrimage of surrounding areas. People are busily erecting the mast of the Wangye boat and hoisting its lanterns and sails. At the appointed signal, ceremonial officials light firecrackers and set fire to the boat. They thus send off Qiansui, who takes plagues with him, bringing to a close the Sacrifice of Peace ceremony.
