[Hualian]Dali Datong Trail

Dali & Datong are located in Hualien Taroko Gorge, 915~1128 meter above the sea, where is one of Taiwanese aborigines tribes - "Truku" lives. In Truku old language, Dali names "Huhus" which means "the sound of snake". Datong names "Skadang" which means "morlar tooth".

Dali & Datong also is called "Dark village" because it is the last Taiwanese aborigines tribes without city power and water system. Truku have the most original life style there. Years ago, Taiwan government helped Truku of Dali & Datong tribe migrate to the city. However, few Truku cannot use to the modern life style. They choose to go back to the tribe in the mountain. They live on  cultivation or manager hostel for hiker.

[Festival] Double Seventh Festival (七夕 QiXi)

The Double Seventh Festival (七夕 QiXi), on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is as Valentine's Day in China. There is a legend of love story about this day.
When you stare to the sky in a summer night, you will see two bright stars on either side of the milky way. These two stars are a couple of lovers-Cowherd(牛郎 Neo Lang) and Weaver Maid(織女 Zhi Nu).They are only allowed to meet each other on magpies bridge on the day of QiXi every year. (Check  their love story on http://edu.big5.enorth.com.cn/system/2008/08/07/003628363.shtml)

Some customs and  hearsays about this legend are pass down from generation to generation. Sharing some interesting things which showing how creative and imaginative of our ancestors are :) For example:

1. Why does it usually rain on the day of QiXi?

- When Weaver Maid meets Cowherd, she is crying with happiness and her tears drop becoming the rain in the human world.

2. Why not easy to see  magpies on the day of QiXi?

- To help Cowherd and Weaver maid meet on QiXi, all magpies fly to milky way to build up the magpies bridge cross the milky way. No magpie shows up alone in the human world.

3. Is any special meaning of using a basin of clean water, mirror & cosmatics as  the tributes for worshipping ceremony on QiXi?

- Weaver Maid has 6 sisters. They are called "7 fairries". They come to human world on QiXi. Because the tributes are used by these farries, people believe that using these tributes to wash face and make up will keep people young and beautiful.

These customs sound not scientific, but these stories make the festival romantic and interesting.

Now, you can find lots celebrating event in these few days! Listed below for you reference.

[Taipei] http://2015valentines.travel.taipei/event_details.html
[Tainan] https://www.facebook.com/love.tncity

Did you already find someone be with you for this romantic night ?

[Festival] Ghost Month & Ghost Festival

According to Chinese custom, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is Ghost Month. On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the gates of the Hell are opened and it is believed that ghosts from the underworld are allowed a month of freedom and haunt in the living world.
During the eerie month, there are also some taboos that people follows. For example, to avoid whistling, swimming, surgery, buying cars and hanging clothes up to dry, going out at night. It is also important that addresses and name are not revealed to the ghosts. These taboos seems illogical but people always try best to follow the rules as we really want to avoid any trouble that’s ghost-related......

Chungyuan PuDu(中元普渡) is held on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, we call Ghost Festival or Chungyuan Festival(中元節). Incense and food are offered to the ghost to avoid them visiting homes and spirit paper money is also burnt as an offering. Believers also think that the food for the ghost will bring them good luck if they eat it. 

Numerous traditional activities are held around Taiwan during Ghost Month, the best-knownings are releasing Water Lanterns in Keelung and Chiang Gu(搶孤) in Yilan Toucheng.
The purpose of releasing Water Lanterns in custom is to help light the way for the lost spirits in the water, call the spirits to come on land to enjoy the offerings and pray for the early reincarnation of these spirits. It is also said that the farther a lanterns, the better the fortune that the clan it represents will enjoy in the coming year.
Chiang Gu(搶孤) is a pole-climbing competitions for the food offerings. The competitor need to climb a pole with 12 feet height and oil spreading on the surface by the fastest speed they can. It is always the liveliest scene during Ghost Month.

On the 29th day of the seventh lunar month, the last day of the seventh lunar month, the Ghost month will be the end and we said “Closing of the ghost gate".  People will prepare cooked food outside the doors of their homes as a farewell dinner for the lonely ghosts. However, some lonely ghosts might be unwilling to return to the underworld. Temples will invite ChungKuei who is a deity who protects humans from evil to escort the ghost and keep people safe and peace.

No matter you believe the ghosts or not. Hope this article will help you understand Taiwanese culture more and enjoy the interesting story.

References:
http://www.hitutor.com.tw/ghosts-festival.php
http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/ 

[Taipei] LungShan Temple

Lungshan Temple is located in the district Wanhua(Manka) of Taipei. It was founded in 1738 and dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy (Kuan-in in Chinese). Lungshan Temple always keeps its nature as a Buddhist temple,but in the course of its development many deities of Taoism were also included. The variety of deities in this temple shows the tolerant mentality of the Chinese people in their religious life. It’s a place where generations of locals come to seek good fortune, health, and even guidance on who to marry.