As the Lunar New Year approaches, the Hengchun Peninsula in Pingtung, known for having the largest scale Tudigong (Earth God) temples in Taiwan, celebrates in unique ways. The Checheng Fuan Temple and the Hengchun Gaoshanyan Fude Temple, known as the home to the earliest Tudigong in Taiwan, conduct special religious folk activities on New Year’s Eve.
Instead of the traditional “rush for the first incense,” these temples have adopted a “first incense worship” ceremony, symbolizing good luck for everyone. Both temples will distribute commemorative coins for good fortune and organize lucky draws until the fifth day of the new year, each offering attractive gifts to boost their popularity.
Recognizing the risks involved in the traditional rush for the first incense, the Checheng Fuan Temple introduced a safer way to worship 19 years ago, where devotees collectively worship Tudigong at midnight on New Year’s Eve. After three bows, the temple staff help insert the incense sticks into the burner. This ceremony, followed by a lucky draw, has become a characteristic religious folk event in southern Taiwan during the Lunar New Year, with the Gaoshanyan Fude Temple in Hengchun soon following suit.
Fu’an Temple 車城福安宮
The general secretary of Fuan Temple, Chen Mingxiu, mentioned that since 2017, the temple has been producing lucky zodiac commemorative coins featuring Tudigong holding a gold ingot, reflecting the temple’s long history. The other side of the coin displays the zodiac animal of the year, with a gold color that is particularly appealing. Long queues were observed during the distribution of these coins on New Year’s Day. On New Year’s Eve, 4000 Tudigong red envelopes and lucky coins will be distributed, with 3000 more given out each day from the first to the fifth day of the new year, depending on the situation on-site.
The Gaoshanyan (Guanshan) Fude Temple in Hengchun, made of rare coral rock, is situated next to the “Guanshan Sunset,” one of the top 12 most beautiful sunset spots in the world as rated by CNN.
Gaoshanyan (Guanshan) Fude Temple in Hengchun
For the upcoming Year of the Dragon, the temple has specially ordered Dragon Year commemorative coins symbolizing good luck and wealth. These coins, along with the lucky money, will be distributed during the Lunar New Year period, allowing visitors to enjoy the sunset and take home a symbol of wealth. The temple reminds visitors to bring their lucky coins to the temple’s incense burner to bless their fortune and wealth for years to come.