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Rituals of the Festival

1. Origins

Each year, Ershui Township of Changhua County holds a famous event called the Water Running Festival.

Water Running Festival became a grand celebration and festival starting around 2001 and 2002. Ershui Township Hall is the main sponsor for the event, and the Agricultural Section is one of the departments in charge of arrangements. Thus, on a beautiful afternoon, during the time slot for club courses, several students and teachers rode their bicycles along Ershui’s famous bicycle lane to the Township Office. We collected relevant data and asked the chief of the Agricultural Section questions about “Water Running Festival.” (the following data and photographs of the Water Running Festival are all from Ershui Township Hall)

2. Changing the name of Water Running Festival

Before 2009, the Water Running ritual was not yet a “festival,” just the “Water Running worship rite,” emphasizing the “worship” in the whole event. After 2009, this event held every second weekend of November was renamed “Water Running Festival.” In addition to the worship, other celebrations were added as well. According to the Township Office, the purpose was to not let the festival be too much of a religious promotion.

At the beginning of the Water Running event, the first person to enter the water holds the animal sacrifice on his head, wears a straw rain cape and straw shoes. Unlike other religious worship events that usually have the significance in sacrifice and contribution, in the earliest times, the Water Running route was actually based on a concept of punishment and redemption.

The earliest purpose of the Water Running event was to worship the water deities. Like traditional beliefs and thinking logic, humans express their respect and fear for ghosts and gods through sacrifice by living people, in order to achieve the communication and expression of hopes and expectations between people and deities. Water is indispensable for the residents of Ershui Township. Based on worship for nature, this acquires feedback from nature to give the people peace and stability. Everything may seem silly and outdated, deep thought finds that this is full of people’s humility and gratitude.

It is said: “If you can run past it, you can enjoy fragrant chicken and wine; if you can’t run past it, you have the four boards waiting for you.” This means that, if one can run past the water, one could be free of punishment; if one fails, then they would drown in the waters of Babao Canal.

The person presenting the offering at Water Running Festival used to be someone who did many bad things in the township (usually at the “death row inmate” level). This is because in an era when the concept of rule of law was not prevalent, people were inclined to turn over fates and consequences to heaven (or nature). Other than the deep trust for the power of nature, there is also a fighting spirit against nature. Of course, nature decides success or failure, and there would be no other artificial methods to intervene in the judgment of an evildoer.

However, later when Taiwan became a rule of law society, everything relied on legal regulation and constraint. The past concept of “divine punishment” was no longer applicable to modern society. So, the festival’s meaning changed, becoming a festive event that seeks blessings. The first person with the offering is determined by sponsors and villagers, and is no longer a criminal but a regular resident in the village. However, since the Water Running ritual has a history, although the first runner no longer has a “redemptive” role, it is like playing a villain on stage, it is still traditionally viewed as an “inauspicious” thing. Thus, before Water Running, the first runner is given a red envelope with money to remove the inauspiciousness. They hope that after he completes the Water Running ritual, everything can return to normal and not be affected. This also demonstrates the villagers’ cherishing, generous, and plain characters.

	Image of the Water Running process.
	Image of the Water Running process.

4. Promotion of event and planning of the event site

Promotion of the Water Running Festival was primarily conducted through promotion trucks, print advertising, newspapers, the internet, and radio. Promotion trucks operate in nearby townships, while print advertising was only distributed within Ershui Township due to funding. The internet and radio can simultaneously transmit messages to younger and older generations. Thus, each year more and more people come to the Water Running Festival on the small Jiji train to participate. At the same time, a month before the activity, the Township Office sends someone to Taipei for a national press conference.

The sites of Water Running Festival can primarily be divided into “Ershui streets” and “Yuanquan Community”.

The events on Ershui streets are primarily performance activities by some organizations and groups.

The grand production is in Yuanquan Community.

Yuanquan Community is the location of Babao Canal, at the same time the Linsiansheng Temple is here. Based on these two landmarks, there are three types of events here:

(1) Worship hall and performance stage within Linsiansheng Temple: the worship hall in Linsiansheng Temple is the main site for the gratitude ritual. Each year, led by the master of ceremonies and the officiant, a group of worshippers led by Changhua County Mayor all experience the feelings of gratitude, cherishing, and commemoration for ancestors in the ritual. In addition, a performance stage in the plaza is used for performances from schools and organizations from morning to night; each year, the performances are excellent.

(2) Babao Canal: next to the canal head of Babao Canal, the canal head ritual is conducted, then the Water Running ritual is conducted on Babao Canal. Next to the end point of Water Running and in the middle section, the Township Office would place fire trucks and ambulances, with temporary emergency care stations on standby.

(3) On Yuanji Road in front of Linsiansheng Temple: on the days of the Water Running Festival, there is a street vendor zone, where many street vendors would come and set up their stalls. They would also sell many agricultural specialties of the townships and villages in Changhua. The stalls would uniformly display boards stating “Village X Community Y,” making this a display and promotional event at the same time.

Before Water Running, there are various types of events to seek blessing. First, the “gratitude ritual” including opening ceremony for blessings, thanking heaven and earth, begin, and this opens the Water Running Festival in Linsiansheng Temple. The reciter of the incantation reads in a loud and powerful voice, accentuating a series of sounds, which enter the hearts of faithful worshippers following the smoke of incense. Even though the people are very loud, there are tourists chatting loudly everywhere, with the calm atmosphere of worship and prayer, they are not troublesome; one can actually feel an unprecedented sense of quietness and calm.

	Reading the worship chants.	Officiant of rites and those accompanying him in the worship.
	Placing the offerings in the front of the hall.	Placing the offerings in the front of the hall.
	The plaque unveiling in the gratitude ritual.	Worship reader and officiant of rites.

2. Canal head ritual

Before going into the water, next to the entrance of Babao Canal Water Running site, there is a worship location established for the rite called “canal head ritual.” In the canal head ritual, the main procedure is worship ceremony with animal offerings (three types of animals). The same worship reader, officiant of rites, and those accompanying him in worship walk along Yuanji Road to worship at the canal head after the gratitude ritual at Linsiansheng Temple ends. In the ceremony, the animal offerings are given to the water conveyor, or the first person participating in Water Running. He places it on his head while wearing a straw rain cape, and passes through the entrance for Water Running down the canal.

	Location and arrangement for the canal head ritual.	Canal head ritual workers.

3.Water Running

The site for Water Running is a slope constructed using wooden planks and bamboo boards. Water Running participants only need to follow the slope down to the bottom of Babao Canal, and running through the entire path is the completion of the Water Running ritual. Each year, Ershui Township Hall would creatively find different symbolic items to decorate the end point, making the whole Water Running event look more fun and lively. Now, even though the auxiliary activities are different each year, including performances and exhibitions, the established procedures remain the same. The progression of gratitude ritual, canal head ritual, to Water Running, then deity sedans (usually the deities from Ande Palance, Shoude Palace, Sanxuan Palace, Shouxuan Palace, Fengtian Palace, Wutian Palace, and Taoshan Temple), has made Water Running Festival an indispensable folk custom in the lives of Ershui Township residents. With the powerful and resonating voice of the master of ceremony, and the traditional folk music of Ershui, “Water Running Festival” is not like other serious and solemn religious rituals. It is a spiritual sense of gratitude, quiet reflection, and cherishing emotions for the heaven, ancestors, and the founders of the canal. At the same time, it evinces and accentuates the traditional spirit of “drinking water and thinking of its source” in the Ershui people.

Furthermore, there are many important figures who participate in the three main rituals in the Water Running Festival. The officiant of rites was usually selected by the local residents themselves, but is now generally the County Mayor, then, there are speeches by the Township Chief and other officials, Water Running, right after the water conveyor. Then it is the deity sedan groups from different temples, and finally the Water Running participants.

It is unique that this year’s (2011) Water Running Festival, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also led emissaries from different countries to participate in the event, opening a new era for the festival.

	2010 Water Running Festival, the rain has not cooled enthusiasm of the people.	2010 Water Running Festival, the rain has not cooled enthusiasm of the people.
	2010 Water Running Festival, the rain has not cooled enthusiasm of the people.	2010 Water Running Festival, the rain has not cooled enthusiasm of the people.
	2010 Water Running Festival, the rain has not cooled enthusiasm of the people.	2010 Water Running Festival, the rain has not cooled enthusiasm of the people.
	2011 Water Running Festival, sunny skies.	2011 Water Running Festival, sunny skies.

6. Celebratory events

(1) Triathlon: a triathlon began to be held in 2007, including running, Water Running, and cycling, which fully demonstrate the features and characteristics of Ershui and Babao Canal, which allow the people to experience Water Running and tour the beauty of Ershui.

(2) Puppet theater: puppet theater is held by the Township Office, and the content accommodates the Water Running Festival, performing content that has religious, folk, or instructional significance.

(3) Raffle: this year is very different from the last years in location. In the last few years, it was conducted within Linsiansheng Temple, and this year it is held in front of the Ershui Station. There was also a jazz percussion performance, which extended the scope in which people can participate.

(4) Performances in Linsiansheng Temple: for a few years, the performance bid was won by Mingdao University. The funding comes from the government, and Tri-Mountain National Park and the County Government as well. Performance activities include Taichi from the community college, and performances from home economics class and various schools. Each year, Ershui Junior High School would appoint its concert band to participate in performance, making the whole Water Running Festival more fun.

(5) Other: different performing groups are invited each year, creating high expectations for the performances that last two and a half days (from Friday night to Sunday). In the past, the Ming Hua Yuan Taiwanese Opera Troupe was invited to perform at the Friday night market in Ershui. In addition, other specialty events in the Township include “specialty shaddock dishes,” “Luoxi Stone Inkwell Exhibition,” and “Kuso Water Running Competition.” In 2011, the Changhua County Government Department of Culture also provided funding for the “Lin Siansheng Exhibition” at the Ershui Junior High School weatherproof field, which introduced information relating to Babao Canal in detail, so that the people could enjoy the exhibition and still want more. At the same time, Ershui Junior High School also accommodates by training student guides, who all performed very well. In the learning process, they have gained another useful skill!

	Ming Hua Yuan Taiwanese Opera.	Ming Hua Yuan Taiwanese Opera.
	Ershui Junior High School concert band performance.	The cheering team of Da Der Commercail and Technical Vacational School
	The news conference of 2012 Water Running Festival.	The news conference of 2012 Water Running Festival.
	The gifts of 2012 Water Running Festival.	The agriculture outputs are displayed in the news conference of 2012 Water Running Festival.
	2012 Water Running Festival.	2012 Water Running Festival.
	2012 Water Running Festival.	In 2012 Water Running Festival, student guides who all performed very well.
	2012 Water Running Festival.	In 2012 Water Running Festival, student guides who all performed very well.

7. Funding

Over the last few years, most of the funding comes from Tri-Mountain National Park and Changhua County Government, and this year more funding was devoted to the event. This shows that Water Running Festival is not only a great local event, but is also an ineradicable cultural and historical tradition!

When collecting data and conducting interviews on the day of the Water Running Festival, we always ask the participating tourists (or local residents): Do you hope Water Running Festival will be even bigger in the future?

The answer is always yes. Everyone said, “Of course!”

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