Baosheng Cultural Festival Kicks Off, Temple Square Family Opera Fully Attended

The 33rd Baosheng Cultural Festival at Dalongdong Baoan Temple held its opening ceremony tonight, co-hosted by Liu Shih-fang, Chiang Wan-an, and Liao Wu-chih, who struck the gongs to pray for Baosheng Dadi's blessings for national peace, favorable weather, and the protection of Taiwan. Minister of Culture Li Yuan, Director of the National Palace Museum Hsiao Tsung-huang, Academician of Academia Sinica Li Feng-mao, and Director of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior Lin Chen-lu also attended.

Baoan Temple stated that the event will run for one and a half months until June 16. In addition to the opening ceremony, the family opera, performed by renowned domestic theater groups, will continue until May 14. April 30 will be the climax of the event, with various folk art troupes such as drum arrays, lion dances, dragon dances, Song Jiang Battle Arrays, Shi Jia Jiang, and flower drum arrays performing in rotation, followed by a fire lion release at night.

On May 1 (the 15th day of the third lunar month), the birthday of Baosheng Dadi, a three-offering ceremony will be held, completing the initial, secondary, and final offerings in sequence, demonstrating a solemn and orderly sacrificial process and the connection between humans and deities through incense offerings, tributes, scripture readings, and bowing. Simultaneously, scholarships will be awarded, free medical clinics will be held, as well as drawing competitions, art exhibitions, opera performances, and religious belief seminars.

Liao Wu-chih recalled that for over 30 years of organizing the Baosheng Cultural Festival, he has upheld the spirit of local gentry voluntarily donating land and funds for construction, once again consolidating and integrating community cultural resources, re-conceptualizing and interpreting temple square culture, and launching a series of activities combining culture, folk customs, art, aesthetics, music, and helping others.

He said that when he paints, he always wants to integrate temple square culture into art and help people in the world. In addition to spending several years restoring ancient buildings, which earned the UNESCO 'Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation in 2003', he also organized an international seminar in 2016, working with Catholic charities to help people in Malawi and the Balkans, and was invited to meet the Pope in 2018.

Liu Shih-fang highly praised Baoan Temple, which has a history of 284 years, for promoting and implementing freedom of religious belief, advocating self-cultivation and spiritual cultivation, and organizing the Baosheng Medical Contribution Award.

Chiang Wan-an said he was grateful to the Baosheng Cultural Festival for specifically organizing the Baosheng Medical Contribution Award, which demonstrates social responsibility through concrete actions, from traditional beliefs to caring for life.

Chiang Wan-an stated that the Baosheng Cultural Festival has been registered as an intangible cultural asset of Taipei City, attracting many believers and domestic and international tourists every year. It is also listed as an international tourism event by the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications. He thanked Liao Wu-chih for his persistence in art and culture, making it the most artistic temple fair event in Taipei City. (Edited by Guan Zhongwei) 1150419