Hundreds of palanquins charge into the sea in Taiwan’s 200-year-old folk ritual

On May 13, more than 4,000 worshippers gathered at the Royal Boat Wharf in Chiayi County, in southern Taiwan, to witness one of the island's most visually striking folk rituals.

As the appointed hour arrives, the sounds of gongs, drums, and exploding firecrackers fill the air. Dozens of palanquins carrying hundreds of deity statues charge directly into the water in a dramatic and chaotic spectacle.

The ritual, known as “Chong Shui Lu, Ying Ke Wang” (衝水路、迎客王), or “Rushing Through the Waterways to Welcome the Guest Kings”, is held annually by the Xinwen Jiaying Temple (新塭嘉應廟) in Budai Township, Chiayi County. With a history spanning more than 200 years, the event has been officially registered as an important folk cultural heritage of Chiayi County.

Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁) said the ritual reflects Taiwan’s deep-rooted tradition of hospitality, as local residents welcome the Guest Kings to visit the temple with extraordinary sincerity and enthusiasm.

A centuries-old maritime folk belief

According to the Chiayi County Culture and Tourism Bureau, the ritual takes place each year on the 27th day of the third lunar month near Provincial Highway 17, at the Royal Boat Wharf west of Xinwen Elementary School. It is considered one of the most important annual religious celebrations along Taiwan’s southwestern coast. In recent years, more than 100 palanquins from temples across Taiwan have joined the event, making the procession even larger and more spectacular.

Xinwen Jiaying Temple worships 22 Wangye (王爺), or “Royal Lords” — deities widely revered in Taiwan’s coastal folk religion. Two remain stationed inside the temple, while 13 patrol the seas and seven guard the mountains.

Local legend says that on the deities’ birthday each year, the 20 Wangye traveling outside the temple gather aboard an invisible royal boat off the coast of Xinwen. As the tide rises, the unseen vessel symbolically sails into the Royal Boat Wharf, where the deities are welcomed ashore before visiting Jiaying Temple and receiving worship from devotees.

Charging into the sea to greet the gods

Before the ceremony begins, worshippers and palanquin bearers gather outside the temple, lining up for the procession to the wharf. Once the auspicious time arrives, crowds surge toward the waterfront, packing the narrow dock shoulder to shoulder.

Locals call the sacred site “Wangye Cave” (王爺窟), believing it to be the place where the Royal Lords arrive and depart each year.

After reaching the wharf, the participating palanquins and performance troupes first warm up onshore. As the tide gradually rises, temple leaders burn incense and conduct prayers, while traditional formations such as the Dragon Group (龍團) and Xing Niu troupe (星牛陣) enter the water and take positions on both sides of the dock.

The ritual symbolizes a long-awaited reunion among the gods after a year apart. At the exact appointed moment, the lead palanquin carrying Lord Yin Wangye (尹王爺) rushes into the water first to greet the arriving Guest Kings, followed by dozens of other palanquins charging in behind it.

Possessed by divine trance, some palanquin bearers dash wildly through the water. And because the tide can become deep, they must lift the palanquins high above their heads until they sense the arrival of the Guest Kings, after which they return ashore and begin the procession back to the temple.

Along the return route, worshippers kneel or lie prostrate on the road, waiting for the palanquins to pass over them in a blessing ritual known as “drilling under the palanquin,” believed to bring peace and protection.

When the procession returns to Jiaying Temple, a fresh wave of firecrackers erupts. Under the direction of Lord Yin Wangye, the Guest Kings are formally welcomed into the temple. During their stay, the resident deities inside the main hall temporarily give up their places as a gesture of respect and hospitality toward the visiting gods.

Only after all temple troupes have completed their performances and the visiting deities from branch temples have entered the shrine does Lord Yin Wangye finally dismount and enter the temple, marking the completion of the welcoming ceremony.

Sending off the Guest Kings

After the Guest Kings are welcomed back, the town continues celebrations throughout the day with traditional performances and religious festivities honoring the gods.

The following evening, a farewell ritual is held. Lord Yin Wangye selects the Guest Kings responsible for patrolling the mountains and seas, who are then escorted quietly back to the Royal Boat Wharf by four ceremonial palanquins.

Under the deity’s instructions, worshippers burn spirit money, longevity offerings, and paper opera stages prepared for the Guest Kings. Once the farewell offerings are complete and the Guest Kings symbolically depart, the lively annual ritual finally comes to an end.