Chin Shan Yan In Celebration of the Ghost Festival A Complete Record of Zhongyuan Pudu 2020
There are three major temples in Shilin, namely Shennong Temple
(founded in 1741), Hui Chi Temple (founded in 1764), and Cixian Temple
(founded in 1796). Given that President Chiang Kai-Shek was a Christian,
settlements and activities near the three temples were mainly for the
local residents. These three temples were first built in the late Qing
Dynasty. After being through the rule of the Japanese and the rule of
the Kuomintang government, the ruling political party has changed, but
there remains a tradition of Zhongyuan Pudu in Chih Shan Yen that has
been celebrating for 160 years. This festival is related the arduous and
tragic stories of the ancestors crossing the Taiwan Strait to look for
prosperity in the early years, and connects the three major temples in
the region. Our team members documented the festival, and the shooting
began on August 19 (1st day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar)
and ended on September 17 with the closing of the gate of the
underworld. Our team members tried to record these activities with
paper, pen, and video.