The “Dragon King Ritual” is a prelude to celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival. This year, the Changhua County Government and Dragon Boat Committee are going to sponsor the “2018 Lukang Dragon Boat Festival Activities series – Dragon King Ritual Dragon Head’s Lift – Good Fortune Comes” and going to conduct the poe divination ceremony. As the old saying goes, “when the dragon’s head lifts, good harvest comes.” Therefore, in the morning on the 18th – “the 2nd day in the 2nd month of the lunar calendar”, a day of good fortune, they will pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva and the Dragon King deity to choose the luckiest day for the activity by throwing divinity blocks. Wei Ming-ku, the Magistrate of Changhua County and Tu Shu-mei, the new chairperson of the Dragon Boat Committee prayed for good weather, plenty of rainfall in the season, and perfect progression of the dragon boat contest by chanting the phrase “when the dragon’s head lifts, good fortune comes.” The chosen day for dragon boat launching ceremony for the 2018 Lukang Dragon Boat Festival Activities series – Dragon King Ritual will be on May 26 (Saturday) (the 12th day in the 4th lunar month).

Magistrate Wei Ming-ku of Changhua County expressed that Lukang was originally called Luzaigang. It flourished during the regimes of Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Daoguang of Qing Dynasty from 1785 to the 1850s. At that time, the most popular scenic spot was “Lukang Feifan.” Now, the central government and the local government are going to collaborate in promoting the “Lukang National Historic Scenic Area Project” to integrate the tacit cultural assets in the surrounding areas with Lukang as its core. Planning to re-create the prosperity of having a thousand sails enter the harbor, they are going to construct Lukang as an international sightseeing town. The “Dragon King Ritual” is an important folk event in Lukang. The management committee of Lungshan Temple, Lukang is appointed as the group to conserve the tacit assets this year, responsible for the continuation of ancestors’ memories.

By the way, this year is the year of the dog, the “Dragon King Ritual” will be held with the theme of the Year of Dog and the “Lukang National Historic Scenic Area Project.” A series of activities will be held, including “Projection Mapping Theater at Lukang City Hall,” “Grassland Concert,” “Luban Banquet,” “International Dragon Boat Contest,” and more. It is believed that “when the Dragon King takes action, Changhua will be prosperous. National history – charming Lukang.” Magistrate Wei would like to invite visitors from different parts of Taiwan to visit Changhua and “watch the dragon boat race, taste good food, visit historic monuments, and have fun with folklore.”

The guests attending the ceremony included Tu Shu-mei, county councilor and the chair of the Dragon Boat Committee; Secretary Huang Hsin-tung of Lukang Town Office; Mayor Nien Li-sung of Fuxing Township; Chairperson Hsu Chih-hung of Luguang Town Representative Council; Director Chen Wen-pin of Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau, Director Teng Chin-chuan of the Department of Education, Chair Shih Hui-hsiung of Longshan Temple Management Committee; President Wang Kang-shou of Lukang Cultural Foundation; Director Chen Yu-chung of Lukang Chicheng Charity Association; councilors and legislators at various levels; local figures, and more.
Source: Changhua County Government’s website
Contact: Ms. Chen, Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau (04-7250057 Ext. 1854)