Lobster and crab form unique 'seafood Da Shi Ye' at Zhushan temple festival

The Zhushan Zen Temple in Nantou, Taiwan, is hosting its annual Da Shi Ye Cultural Festival, a vibrant celebration that blends deep-rooted religious traditions with innovative local artistry. This year's theme, 'Good Gods of Zhushan,' promises a unique experience for attendees from September 4th to 6th.

A centerpiece of the festival is an extraordinary creation dubbed the 'seafood Da Shi Ye.' This one-of-a-kind effigy is meticulously crafted not from traditional materials, but from an array of fresh seafood, including lobster, crab, and golden clams. The collaboration between master chefs and the Xin Cheng Si Yan team has transformed these culinary ingredients into a solemn and visually striking representation of Da Shi Ye, showcasing a novel fusion of contemporary visual arts and food culture.

The temple, which traces its origins back to 1858, holds significant historical and spiritual importance. Its enshrined Guanyin Bodhisattva is recognized as the first spiritual descendant of the Da Shi Ye ancestral temple in Minxiong, Chiayi. Da Shi Ye, revered in folk beliefs as an embodiment of Guanyin Bodhisattva, is traditionally the central figure during the Ghost Festival's appeasement rituals in the seventh lunar month.

Beyond the unique seafood effigy, the festival offers a rich program of activities. Visitors can partake in traditional ceremonies, join grand street parades, explore a bustling food street, engage in various competitions, and enjoy performances by artists and internet celebrities. A highlight on the evening of September 6th will be the 'Sacred Da Shi Ye Ascension' ceremony, inviting devotees to experience this distinctive cultural and religious event. Attendees also have the chance to win cultural merchandise, such as a 'Da Shi Ye cultural thermos,' through a 'jiao bei' (divine筊) casting ritual.

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This year's cultural festival activities, in addition to traditional rituals and grand parades, also include a food street, diverse competitions, and performances by artists and internet celebrities. You can also obtain cultural products such as the 'Da Shi Ye cultural thermos' through throwing筊.