From midday today, the 22nd day of the 10th lunar month, Wanhwa will explode with music and firecrackers. Giant puppets will strut, lions will dance and people possessed by spirits will whip their flesh until blood flows. The celebration is to mark the King of Chingshan's (青山王) birthday and is one of Taipei's most exciting festivals.
Although not a major deity, the King of Chingshan commands great veneration locally. Followers from other temples carry statues of their deities to visit him, just as a statue of him is taken to visit them. Visitors gyrate and dance under the god's will.
In his earthly life, the king was Zhang Kun (
In 212, Sun sent Zhang to defend Huian in Fujian Province where, because he was wise, brave and honest, he was loved by the army and the people alike. After his death, he was worshipped and a cult grew around him. Officials sent to the county prayed to him for peace and prosperity.
In the 10th century, the Sung emperor sent Cui Zhijie to Huian. While Cui prayed to Zhang the tombstone suddenly collapsed and it was discovered that its back was inscribed with ancient verse predicting the emperor would send Cui to take him up Chingshan (Green Mountain). Later, a shrine was erected on the mountain to Zhang.
During the wars between the southern Sung and northern Jin empires, flags bearing Zhang's name were enough to cause the Jin army to retreat. In gratitude, emperor Gao Zong (1127-1162) made Zhang Spiritual Peace King (
In 1854, a statue of Zhang was brought by Fujian fishermen to Taiwan to impart its supposedly miraculous powers. Passing through Wanhwa, the exhausted fishermen could no longer move the statue. Upon inquiry, the god expressed the wish to remain in the present location. Followers increased as the statue seemed to protect against epidemics.
The temple dates from 1856 and every year the statue is carried by a palanquin around the neighborhood and other deities are brought to him. For three days, Wanhua becomes a riot of noise and color.
The Chingshan Temple (
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