2014 Kaohsiung Neimen Songjiang Battle Array Festival
By , TravelKing
Updated: 2014/6/4
Updated: 2014/6/4
The event has ended this year.
Songjiang Battle Array is an amazing festival embraces martial arts and ethnic performance in rituals and religious ceremonies of Taiwan. This is the folklore and traditions that you can only see in Taiwan. Come to Kaohsiung during 2014/03/08 -3/19 and enjoy the event.
Photo by Jacky
Event: 2014 Kaohsiung Neimen Songjiang Battle Array Festival
Event Period: 8th of Mar, 2014 to 19th of May, 2014
Location: Zi-Zhu Temple, Neimen Township
Opening Ceremony: 09:30 am (3/8 Sat)
Songjiang Battle Array is also called Song Jiang Zhen in Chinese, which is an unique folk martial art skill combined with religious ritual which only exists in Taiwan. This folk culture is popular in the southern Taiwan, especially it is the most intactly preserved in Neimen Township, Kaohsiung. Songjiang Battle Array was a military tactic first used in Ming Dynasty and passed down to Taiwan during Qing Dynasty. As times change, the military troupe became religious-based performance groups who perform martial arts and ethnic performance in rituals and religious ceremonies in Taiwan. The array is usually used as leaders of the parade (Din Tao) as a signification of driving away evil spirits and protecting people safe. It is initially active and became popular in Tainan and Kaohsiung. With the largest number of battle array groups in Neimen District of Kaohsiung, the local folk have devoted to preserving and promoting the development of this grassroots culture. Since 2005, Neimen has held the festival and the intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array Competition in the Guanyin Festival or Mazu Festival each year, and the event has become increasingly large-scale by the year.
Event Period: 8th of Mar, 2014 to 19th of May, 2014
Location: Zi-Zhu Temple, Neimen Township
Opening Ceremony: 09:30 am (3/8 Sat)
Songjiang Battle Array is also called Song Jiang Zhen in Chinese, which is an unique folk martial art skill combined with religious ritual which only exists in Taiwan. This folk culture is popular in the southern Taiwan, especially it is the most intactly preserved in Neimen Township, Kaohsiung. Songjiang Battle Array was a military tactic first used in Ming Dynasty and passed down to Taiwan during Qing Dynasty. As times change, the military troupe became religious-based performance groups who perform martial arts and ethnic performance in rituals and religious ceremonies in Taiwan. The array is usually used as leaders of the parade (Din Tao) as a signification of driving away evil spirits and protecting people safe. It is initially active and became popular in Tainan and Kaohsiung. With the largest number of battle array groups in Neimen District of Kaohsiung, the local folk have devoted to preserving and promoting the development of this grassroots culture. Since 2005, Neimen has held the festival and the intercollegiate Songjiang Battle Array Competition in the Guanyin Festival or Mazu Festival each year, and the event has become increasingly large-scale by the year.
Kaohsiung Neimen Songjiang Battle Array (photo by Jacky)
Songjiang Zhen is now the martial art performances, the number can be more or less includes 36 people, 72 people, or 108 people, yet today the Songjiang Battle Array is generally composed of 36 members. The members will have their face painted and will wear Chinese-style costumes. The martial arts, weapon usage, parades, and formations are the highlights of the battle performance. The weapons include flags, shields, knifes, hooks, forks, twin axes, wooden sticks, and broadsword. Songjiang Battle Array is also famous for its formation (Zhen) which is the strategy of the ranks with tactics; the purpose of the formation is to crash down enemies in the most efficient way. Observers may find out that Songjiang battle arrays consist of nature martial arts blends with the local religious custom, turning this folklore culture into a distinctive one.
Tourists are welcomed to be amazed by the joyful and exhilarating performances from 2014/03/08 -3/19. There is competition between colleges on 3/8-3/9, and the final competition will be held on 3/15. Other than Songjiang Battle Array, the festival also includes Din Tao performances, parades, and agriculture products exposition. In addition, Kaohsiung is a great city to visit for its numerous tourist sites, as well as tasting famous local delicacies.
Book your Taiwan hotels today at TravelKing today and get ready to discover the unparalleled beauties of this vibrant Taiwan city- Kaohsiung.
For more information about Songjiang Battle Array, please visit the official website of Kaohsiung Neimen Songjiang Battle Array Festival (currently available in Mandarin only).
Tourists are welcomed to be amazed by the joyful and exhilarating performances from 2014/03/08 -3/19. There is competition between colleges on 3/8-3/9, and the final competition will be held on 3/15. Other than Songjiang Battle Array, the festival also includes Din Tao performances, parades, and agriculture products exposition. In addition, Kaohsiung is a great city to visit for its numerous tourist sites, as well as tasting famous local delicacies.
Book your Taiwan hotels today at TravelKing today and get ready to discover the unparalleled beauties of this vibrant Taiwan city- Kaohsiung.
For more information about Songjiang Battle Array, please visit the official website of Kaohsiung Neimen Songjiang Battle Array Festival (currently available in Mandarin only).
Free shuttle service:
Qishan Bus Station <-> Zi-Zhu Temple
Operating date: 3/8, 3/9, 3/15, 3/16
Operating time: 9:30-17:30 (runs every 15-20 minutes)
Qishan Bus Station <-> Zi-Zhu Temple
Operating date: 3/8, 3/9, 3/15, 3/16
Operating time: 9:30-17:30 (runs every 15-20 minutes)
