Thousands of religious devotees flocked to Qingshan Temple (青山宮) in Taipei’s Wanhua District (萬華) this week to join in the nightly patrols and parades celebrating the birthday of the deity Qingshanwang (青山王; Green Mountain King), which was yesterday.
Some of the most eye-catching personages in the annual Qingshanwang Festival are the bajiang (八家將), or Eight Generals.
The Eight Generals, along with an inlutongzi (引路童子, guide boy), serve as guards for Qingshanwang.
Photo: Yeh Kuan-yu, Taipei Times
Each year, eight people play the role of the Eight Generals — four green-faced “lock generals” and four red-faced “cangue generals” — and a child is dressed up as a “guide boy” — said to be transformed from a white crane — who carries a calabash that contains conquered evil spirits.
In adherence with strict traditions, participants adorn unique costumes and makeup and are required to walk in a specific way.
Eight Generals chief executive director Kao Yu-feng (高玉峰) said that there are 60 to 70 people who play the roles of the Eight Generals in the Qingshanwang parade.
All of the participants are non-professional performers who have other jobs, such as tour bus drivers, body shop owners and movers, Kao said, adding that they only meet for the three-day night patrol and parade period prior to Qingshanwang’s birthday.
However, not everyone can become a performer for the Eight Generals, Kao said.
He said most of the participants’ fathers or siblings are part of the Eight Generals team, and many of them had been a guide boy when they were younger.
Kao cited the case of a man who unexpectedly showed up at a meeting, saying that he had been directed to serve as one of the Eight Generals by Qingshanwang in a dream.
In such a case, the team seeks Qingshanwang’s permission, by throwing divine blocks, before a new recruit is accepted, Kao said.
If permission is granted, a new recruit’s morality, characteristics, and behavior are observed for three years before they are officially made a member, he said, adding that for the Qingshanwang Festival, members of the Eight Generals team have to observe asceticism and refrain from eating beef a week before festivities.
Eight Generals makeup artist Lin Tzu-hsien (林自賢) said that the face painting “strictly follows the traditions,” and a defect is purposely added to show that the participants are not immortals, but rather human beings with makeup of the Eight Generals.
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