The Presidential Office Building will play host next month to Guan Gong (關公), the Chinese deity of war and martial arts.
A bronze statue of Guan Gong from Puji Temple (普濟堂) in Taoyuan County’s Dasi Township (大溪) will lead a procession of more than 1,000 people from Dasi to Taipei, temple officials said.
The officials said the statue came from Fenghua County in Zhejiang Province, China, the hometown of former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), and was installed in the Presidential Office building after Chiang became president.
Photo: Chiu Yi-tung, Taipei Times
When Chiang heard about Puji Temple and its large number of Guan Gong devotees, he gave the statue to the temple, using his friend and then-presidential advisor James Wei (魏景蒙), as an intermediary, the officials said.
Dasi Mayor Huang Jui-sung (黃睿松) recently began discussion with temple officials about having the statue visit its former home in Taipei.
Dasi is renowned for its annual birthday celebrations for Guan Gong, which include a variety of cultural and arts events, but the celebrations are only in the Dasi area, the mayor said.
“We see the annual Matsu procession in southern Taiwan making long trips to several cities and counties. So I want to see our Guan Gong procession visit the Presidential Office building,” he said. “That way we can create two big religious festivals in Taiwan — for Guan Gong in the north and for Matsu in the south.”
Huang said Taoyuan County Commissioner John Wu (吳志揚) supported his proposal and broached the idea to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) when Ma visited Chungli City (中壢) during the Lunar New Year holidays.
After many planning meetings, the procession has been scheduled to arrive at the Presidential Office on July 26, Hung said.
According to Chen Yi-chun (陳義春), the temple’s chief management official, more than 20 organizations and 1,000 people are to take part in the procession.
It is to begin in Dasi, and pass through Sansia District (三峽) in New Taipei City (新北市) on its way to Taipei, and return to Dasi via Gueishan Township (龜山) in Taoyuan County, he said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS