30 Days of Celebration


　

　

Lyrics of the Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang


　

Origin

　

　　Zhongyuan Festival is a tradition in Taiwan. Zhongyuan Pu-Tu is a fusion of many folk practices, starting from ancient times when people worshipped ancestors with newly harvested rice on the day. Meanwhile, July of the lunar calendar is the Ghost Month, with offerings to ghosts traveling in the human world. As Lukang became increasingly prosperous with more and more immigrants, particularly from Quanzhou and Zhangzhou, these new residents introduced to Lukang the customs from their hometowns. In those days, Zhongyuan Pu-Tu was essentially the duplication of the religious offerings in Quanzhou. Pu-Tu was staged in rotation in different neighborhoods each day, to worship Pu-Tu God and offer food to ghosts. Over time, a rhyme was created to describe the process of the Pu-Tu rotation. This was how the Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang was passed down.  



　

Content

　　The Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang, also known as Lukang Pu-Tu Chant, is a title given by posterity afterwards. This folk song previously only had its lyrics without titles. The contents are included in the Anthology of Folklore Literature of Changhua County. According to Mr. Guo-Hsiung Shih, there are two versions known today and there is not much difference between them. For instance, one version says, “Thirteen Yamen” and the other version says, “Thirteen Jinsheng Lane.” One says “Nineteen Shanxing Street” and the other says “Nineteen at the back of Gongguan.” One says, “Twenty-Nine Pu-Tu all over Lukang; Thirty turtle-shaped rice cake shops; Day One (in lunar August) rice vermicelli eateries; Day Two beggar huts; Day Three beggars out of food again.” The other version says, “Twenty-Nine Quanzhou Street; Day One butcher shops; Day Two rice vermicelli eateries; Day Three beggar huts; Day Four beggars out of food again.” Mr. Shih decided to adopt the first version and composed it with the traditional pentatonic scale of Do, Re, Mi, Sol and La. He invited the Lukang Choir to produce “the Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang” CD as well as a video. Having witnessed the far-reach of online media over recent years, Mr. Shih then uploaded the video “the Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang” on sharing platforms so that this song can be passed down to future generations.

(Please refer to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7V7cqwVH2M.) 


　

　　The Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang has been included in the Anthology of Folklore Literature of Changhua County many times. It is also collected by the Art & Culture Chapter and the Religion Chapter of the Lukang Gazetteer. It can also be seen on “Lukang Panorama” at the website of Household Registration Administration, Lukang Township, Changhua County. Mr. Rung-Chung Yeh, a late scholar in Lukang, also mentioned this song in his article Folklore of Lukang Zhongyuan. This song is a must-have for Lukang Folk Arts Museum in any exhibition on Zhongyuan Pu-Tu. In sum, the Pu-Tu culture portrayed in the song has significant meanings to Lukang.  


 The complete lyrics adopted by Mr. Guo-Hsiung Shih are as follows, 


　

　

　

The Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang

　

Day One releasing water lanterns, 

Day Two Wangye Temple, 

Day Three Rice Market Street,

Day Four Wenwu Temple,

Day Five City God Temple, 

Day Six Tucheng navy camp, 

Day Seven birthday of Seven Fairy Maidens,

Day Eight around the New Temple, 

Day Nine Xinghua Mazu Temple, 

Day Ten the end of the harbor,

Eleven Vegetable Gardens,

Twelve Longshan Temple,

Thirteen Yamen,

Fourteen Hungry Ghost Yard,

Fifteen the Old Temple,

Sixteen Dongshi Village,

Seventeen Guo Manor,

Eighteen the military camp,

Nineteen Shanxing Street,  

Twenty Houliao Village,

Twenty-one Houche Road,

Twenty-two Boat Harbor,

Twenty-three Tail of Lukang Street,

Twenty-four back of Mazu Temple,

Twenty-five the Hsu Village,

Twenty-six Cattle Market,

Twenty-seven Anping Lane,

Twenty-eight Docking Pier,

Twenty-nine Pu-Tu all over Lukang, 

Thirty turtle-shaped rice cake shops, 

Day One (in August) rice vermicelli eateries, 

Day Two (in August) beggar huts, 

Day Three  (in August) beggars out of food again.

　

TOP

　

Source:

1. Journal of the Chinese Department, National Chung Hsing University, Issue 30, December 2011 

2. https://www.shs.edu.tw/works/essay/2013/03/2013032809384171.pdf

3. https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/2169645