• Pu-Tu in Taiwan
  • Something about Pu-Tu
  • Pu-Tu in Lukang
  • Pu-Tu in Keelung
  • Chiang-Gu
• Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang
  • Lyrics
  • Composer
• Month of Pu-Tu
  • Day 1 - Day 7
  • Day 8 - Day 14
  • Day 15 - Day 21
  • Day 22 - Day 29
  • Day 30 - Following Days
• Meeting Cultural Workers
  • Shih, Kuo-Hsiung
  • Chuang, Yen-Yu
  • Li, Tsung-Hsueh
• Lukang Explorers
• Project Narrative
  • Basic Information
  • Project Overview
  • Project Elements
  • Project Contributions
  • Bibliography

 Chiang-Gu, Pu-Tu in North and South

　　Chiang-Gu, also known as “ghost grappling” and a pole-climbing competition, is an important element of Pu-Tu. It is an event with humans playing hungry ghosts to climb up the bare and tall poles, over the scaffolds, and up the above stacks to grab offerings and Flag of Tailwinds. The first team to get their hands on the offerings will enjoy good luck. The most famous Chiang-Gu activities in Taiwan are held in Pingtung Hengchun in the south and Yilan Toucheng at the northeast corner. In general, the scaffoldings over 10 meters in height are set up, with the stacks on top for offerings and Flag of Tailwinds. Lard is spread all over the poles of the scaffoldings. Each team has eight people. Three climbers go up on top of a human pyramid consisting with the rest of the team. It is not easy to climb up on one’s own and accidents are more often than not. It is said that Mr. Ming-Chuan Liu, the Governor of Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, once prohibited this activity because of its danger. There are many safety measures in place nowadays, such as safety nets underneath and safety ropes for climbers.   

Chiang-Gu in the South

　　Chiang-Gu in Hengchun began in the Qing Dynasty after the establishment of Hengchun Town, with better-off settlers giving away offerings to the less fortunate after Zhongyuan Pu-Tu. However, the grabs for food often led to conflicts and fights. It then became a competition as a way to distribute the offerings. Today, it is a climbing game as well as a tourist attraction. Sometimes we can even see foreign competitors in the game. 

　　According to the data synthesized by Lukang Explorers, Chiang-Gu had taken place before Pingtung became a county. The ghost grappling in Hengchun was held on July 15^th of the lunar calendar at the East Gate of the ancient town center. This activity was banned during the Qing Dynasty and under the Japanese Colonial Rule. It was revived in 1981 and still ongoing these days.  

　　The scaffoldings today are also quite different from the ones in the past. The early approach was to put four wooden pillars upright as a symbol for the four old town centers of Hengchun. Each pillar was 3.6 decameters in height, covered with slippery grease. A safety net was constructed underneath and the floor was covered with fine sands, to prevent accidents. Several stacks were then erected on the scaffoldings with a flag on top. The first one to grab the flag was the winner. Today, a total of 36 wooden pillars are erected, instead of 4, to allow more teams to participate in. 

 Chiang-Gu in the North

　　Chiang-Gu in Toucheng, which can be dated back from the Qing Dynasty, is the largest one in scale and the most particular in style. Its origin was closely related to the development of the Lanyang Plain. This ceremony is a reflection of the sufferings early settlers went through in Taiwan. It is also a religious activity in assistance to wandering ghosts and the tribute to the ancestors. The process of grabbing is the embodiment of teamwork, fighting, and sharing among early settlers. The Chiang-Gu scaffoldings and stacks in Toucheng are the highest in Taiwan, making the grabs an exciting and nerve-racking game. 

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