"ilha formosa": April 2011

Curtain call...

The past six weeks have been very hectic with visits from friends from Urbana-Champaign and Michigan. It was fun to share our favorite parts of Taiwan. While our friend Linda was visiting us, we were able to see a traditional Taiwanese opera. Claude and I had to go to Michigan for an emergency. Susan's mother was very ill, but is doing better right now after the placement of a stent in an artery going to her heart. We have returned to Taiwan to finish out our last three months. It will be very hectic for Susan -- class, workshops, and presentations in Taiwan and China.

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to literally run across a local celebration for the goddess Matzu and we were with our friend Yi-hung so she could help us understand what was happening. Here are some of the pictures from our encounter with the celebration of Matzu's birthday...

There are 12 foot tall gods that represent the helpers of Matzu. They parade through the streets to clean up any evil spirits who might be making trouble for the neighborhood people. One has good eyesight and can see anyone not acting right, one has good hearing and can hear any negative talk, etc.

We followed the parade through the streets. There were the gods in elaborate costumes followed by small visiting Matzu statues in palanquins. They were visiting a powerful Matzu in the local neighborhood and would return to their local temple after the celebration regenerated them and made them more powerful.

There was also a baby god in a small palanquin. He was holding the ring of eternity. For each stop on the route through the neighborhood twin lion dancers and dragon dancers performed. This was followed by paperless fire crackers. At the end of the parade through the neighborhood, they took up residence in a local park.

Before...

Afer igniting...

At the park, the temple had hired traveling Taiwanese opera performers to perform in honor of the god. You can see from the pictures it was very interesting. Our friend told us this is not the most elaborate festival, but it was certainly enthusiastic! It was fun to be so close to the activities.