The largest cash prize for first place in contests being held across the nation for throwing divination blocks, or jiao, will be given at Greater Tainan’s Matsu Temple in Luermen, with a NT$2 million (US$67,751) cash prize for the champion in its “Enterprise Fund Divination Block Throwing Contest,” in which a total of NT$3 million (US$101,606) will be given away. Starting on the first day of the Lunar New Year, more than 12,000 people had already participated in the contest as of last Tuesday, 500 of whom are already qualified to participate in the finals. The winner last year beat a total of 14,000 contestants, throwing a total of seven shengjiao, or divine answer positions, meaning the querent receives a “yes” answer to their question.
The temple’s committee chairman, Wang Tseng-jung, said this is the temple’s third year of holding the contest, which began on the first day of the Lunar New Year, or Jan. 23, and will last until the last day of the first lunar month, or Feb. 21. After paying NT$300 (US$10) to participate in the contest, you can then compete to see who throws the most shengjiao. If you throw five or more, you are allowed to participate in the finals, which will be held on the second day of the second lunar month, or Feb. 23. First prize is NT$2 million, the second prize is NT$500,000 (US$16,938), and the third prize is NT$300,000 (US$10,163). There will also be two lucky draws of NT$100,000 (US$3,388) each.
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY KYLE JEFFCOAT)
南市土城鹿耳門聖母廟三百萬元(十萬一千六百零六美元)「創業基金擲筊大賽」，第一名獎金兩百萬元(六萬七千七百五十一美元)，是全台第一大獎。大年初一至上週二已有一萬兩千多人參加，已逾五百人取得決賽權。去年冠軍打敗一萬四千人，以七聖筊脫穎而出。
Photo: Tsai Wen-cheng, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者蔡文正
主委王增榮表示，聖母廟「創業基金擲筊大賽」今年是第三年，從農曆大年初一進行到月底，參加民眾繳了三百元後(十美元)，就可以比誰擲出的聖筊最多，凡擲出五杯以上者均可參加農曆二月二日的決賽，頭獎兩百萬元、貳獎五十萬元(一萬六千九百三十八美元)、參獎三十萬元(一萬一百六十三美元)，另有開運獎二名十萬元(三千三百八十八 美元)。
（自由時報記者孟慶慈、蔡文居）
Photo: Yang Yi-min, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者楊宜敏
Photo: Su Fu-nan, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者蘇福男
Photo: Tsai Wen-chu, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者蔡文居
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