Month of Pu-Tu in Lukang

　

Day One ~ Day Seven

　

Day One,  Releasing Water Lanterns

　　On the first day of the Ghost Month, Dizangwang Temple in Lukang opened the Ghost Gate. The release of water lanterns marked the beginning of the Pu-Tu Month. The water lanterns, generally known as water lantern heads today, were used to send lightness to the drowned and wandering ghosts so that they knew it was time for Pu-Tu and they could come ashore for the offerings. 

　　In the evening, the family clans responsible for the release of water lanterns gathered at Dizangwang Temple. The water lanterns, mostly supported with bamboo poles, came in four layers. On the little bamboo raft were a pair of candles and incense sticks besides the lantern. Red paper with writings “Celebration of Zhongyuan” and “Time for Pu-Tu” were attached to the candles. Once the ceremony started, local residents holding candles or fire torches and striking on the gongs marched on the streets, following the lead of a Taoist priest. The lanterns were lit at Great Kantou (now the parking lot of Lukang Mazu Temple.) They then placed water lanterns into the Lukang River, floating westward to the sea. While releasing the water lanterns, a Square Table of Eight Immortals with pork, chicken, fish, vegetables and rice, as well as silver paper money on top would be placed on the riverbank. The Taoist priest sang the Summoning of the Soul to guide wandering ghosts to the shore. After the chanting, he would put out the fire torch and return to the yard of the Temple. The whole ceremony would then be complete. 

Photo 1-1: Lukang Dizangwang Temple

Photo 1-2: Releasing of water lanterns on July 1st 


　

Day Two, Wangye Temple

　　Wangye Temple was previously located at today’s Lukang Assembly Hall. Before the construction of Lukang Assembly Hall, this site was once occupied by Xiajiao (Xiamen merchant guild) Hall and Wanchuan Temple dedicated to the Lord of the Su Family, called Su Wangye. It was the first stop for merchant ships in Lukang in the Qing Dynasty. Pu-Tu in Lukang was a collective effort, and everyone was busy all over the old town in July of the lunar calendar. The rotation scheme in the old days had a specific list of task distributions. However, as time went by, people in modern society do not have plenty of time for the elaborate Pu-Tu activities. In the past, the Pu-Tu celebration in the areas surrounding Wangye Temple was handled by Xiaojiao Hall. Today, it is overall implemented by the Township Office. 

Photo 2-1: Lukang Assembly Hall


　

Photo 2-2: Lukang Assembly Hall 


　

Day Three, Rice Market Street

　　

　　Rice Market Street is the old name of Meishi Street today, next to First Public Retail Market. It is where the rice storehouse was located in the past. As the saying goes, food is everything for the people. The biggest wish for early settlers in Taiwan was to provide enough food and clothes to each of their family, and also to supply shelter and sanctuary for their coming generations.  Known as a treasure island, Taiwan produces an abundance of rice. Rice shipped to the harbor was mostly stored in nearby warehouses. Rice Market Street was, as implied by the name, the hub of the rice trade at that time. 

　　It’s worth mentioning that An-Nan Temple, previously on Rice Market Street and handling the Pu-Tu practice around, was torn down for the widening of roads. All its precious historical relics and paper-constructed god statues are revered at Wuze Temple on Shanxing Street. 

　

Photo 3: Rice Market Street

　

Day Four, Wenwu Temple

　　Pu-Tu activities around here were held at the intersection between Qingyun Road and Zhanglu Road. Currently, Lukang Township Office continues the tradition of the rotation scheme for the lunar July. The Pu-Tu ceremony is held in front of Wenwu Temple by lighting up Wenchang Lamp for good luck in examinations, Guangming Lamp for peace to the family, Taisui Lamp for banishing bad luck, and Fortune God Lamp for wealth and prosperity. 

　

Photo 4-1: the Entrance to Wenwu Temple

Photo 4-2: Wenwu Temple

Photo 4-3: Pu-Tu Ceremony at Wenwu Temple


　

Photo 4-4: Wenchang Lamp

Day Five, City God Temple

　　Pu-Tu on July 5th was staged by the residents along the two sides of City God Temple. The residents across from the Temple, namely at Hungry Ghost Yard, were responsible for July 14th. Why did these neighbors not celebrate Pu-Tu together?   Mr. Tsung-Hsueh Li believes that Pu-Tu in those years was essentially a socializing activity in lunar July, time to chat and dine with friends and relatives. This was the reason why the rotation program ran one day in the north and one day in the south.  

　　City God Temple, also known as Cheng Huang Temple, is on the high street, now called Zhongshan Road. It was the only temple on this street worshipped by the whole Lukang during the Qing Dynasty. 

Photo 5-1: City God Temple, Lukang

Photo 5-2: City God Temple, Lukang

　

Day Six, Tucheng Navy Camp

　　Tucheng Navy Camp was a military site during the Qing Dynasty and located at the south section of the high street. It was rebuilt into a station, belonging to Xin-Kao Sugar Manufacturing Company during the Japanese Colonial Rule and, therefore, became Lukang Train Station. (More details about Tucheng are available at Interview with Yen-Yu Chuang.)

　

Photo 6-1: Map of Ancient streets in Lukang

Photo 6-2: Tucheng in Lukang (Lukang Station today)

　

Day Seven, Birthday of Seven Fairy Maidens

　　

　　July 7th of the lunar calendar is the Chinese Valentine’s Day. On this day, people in Lukang suspend from Pu-Tu and pray to Seven Fairy Maidens. People usually prepare sugar rice cakes, glutinous oil rice, red yarns, rouge, fragrant powders, and red flowers. After the worship, a special bamboo-woven Pavilion for Seven Fairy Maidens was burned and tossed over the roof. 

　　Hede Sanheyuan, on the Old Street in Lukang,  has two sky ladders paved with red bricks on the center of the tiled roof. It is an auspicious symbol for all the way to the top, as well as a practical access for maintenance. The sky ladders suggest the path for Seven Fairy Maidens to return to the heavens on July 7th. This design is a unique combination of architecture and worship tradition of Seven Fairy Maidens in Lukang. 

　

Photo 7-1: Sugar Rice Cakes in Lukang

Photo 7-2: Preparation for Worshiping Seven Fairy Maidens on July 7th in Lukang (1)
　

Photo 7-3: Preparation for Worshiping Seven Fairy Maidens on July 7th in Lukang (2)

Photo 7-4: Pavilion for Seven Fairy Maidens

　

Photo 7-5: the burned frames thrown over the roof

TOP

Source:

1. https://ourlukang.org/song-for-lukangpurdue-1/

2. https://reurl.cc/NXGpOp

3. https://reurl.cc/YWd9mn

4. https://www2.chcg.gov.tw/main/main_act/main.asp?main_id=2535&act_id=31

5. Listen to Mr. Wu-Lang Cheng Talking about the Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang

    http://outdooredu.skjh.chc.edu.tw/lukang/modules/tadnews/index.php?nsn=79

6. Homeland Study Materials, Lukang Junior High School

7. https://www.travelking.com.tw/tourguide/scenery103734.html  

8. https://kknews.cc/culture/jlzxeqq.html

　

Source of photo:

Photo 1-1 https://reurl.cc/YWd9mn

Photo 1-2 https://playing.ltn.com.tw/article/10400

Photo 4-3 https://reurl.cc/V3RjQb

Photo 4-4 https://reurl.cc/xg1O2E

Photo 5-2 https://blog.xuite.net/keven11146304/twblog/128867973

Photo 7-1 https://kknews.cc/culture/y29krg.html

Photo 7-2 https://reurl.cc/NXGpOp 

Photo 7-3 https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/1790133

Photo 2-1, 2-2, 3, 4-1, 4-2, 5-1, 6-1, 6-2, 7-4, 7-5: taken by Lukang Explorers