Thousands celebrate arrival of guests for Ong Yah’s birthday

Thousands celebrate arrival of guests for Ong Yah’s birthday

2026-05-13

A breathtaking display of faith and tradition took place on Wednesday in Xinwen, Chiayi, as hundreds of deities were carried into the water by devotees. The event was a ceremony at Jiaying Temple celebrating the birthday of the most revered resident deity, known as Ong Yah of the Yin Mansion. With a history spanning 188 years, this spectacular religious event drew more than 4,000 worshippers and visitors to welcome dozens of guest Ong Yahs, who are believed to arrive aboard an invisible royal boat.

A large crowd of worshippers follow the palanquins to the wharf. When the auspicious time arrives, a thunder of gongs, drums and firecrackers fills the air, as carriers rush with palanquins into the water and welcome dozens of guest Ong Yahs travelling on an invisible royal boat.

Dozens of palanquins and hundreds of deity figurines in the water create a spectacular scene. This annual ritual has been held for 188 years. It’s hosted by the Xinwen Jiaying Temple in Chiayi to celebrate the birthday of Ong Yah of the Yin Mansion. This year, more than 4,000 worshipers joined in, along with Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang and Legislator Tsai Yi-yu.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi County Commissioner
This centenary tradition is making Xinwen here in Budai be at its liveliest. The warmth and hospitality of the people of Taiwan created this solemn ceremony to welcome the guest Ong Yahs.

Tsai Yi-yu
Legislator (DPP)
I’d like to thank everyone for visiting my hometown, Xinwen, to join this special ceremony.

The ceremony takes place on Ong Yah’s birthday, on the 27th day of the 3rd month of the traditional lunisolar calendar. According to the legend, the Ong Yahs patrolling other areas travel back to Xinwen on an invisible boat with the high tide. They follow the stream until reaching the Royal Boat Wharf, where they disembark and visit Jiaying temple to be worshipped by devotees. It is a major date on the religious calendar locally.

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#culture #taiwanculture #folkreligion #chiayi #taiwantravel #taiwanevents

嘉義新塭"衝水路迎客王" 數百尊神明入水場面壯觀

2026-05-13

已經有188年歷史的嘉義新塭嘉應廟衝水路迎客王活動，今天一早大批轎班人員和信徒，聚集在王船碼頭，嘉義縣長翁章梁等人也到場，神轎、信眾齊聚一堂，參與這一年一度的宗教盛事，熱鬧滾滾。

大批信眾跟著神轎來到王船碼頭，時辰一到，鑼鼓聲伴隨著陣陣鞭炮聲，轎班人員扛著神轎，衝進王船碼頭，要迎接搭乘無形王船的客王上岸。

數十神轎、數百尊神明衝入水中，場面壯觀又震撼，這是嘉義新塭嘉應廟一年一度的衝水路迎客王活動，至今已有188年歷史，現場聚集4000多位信徒和民眾，嘉義縣長翁章梁和立委蔡易餘等人也到場同歡。

[[嘉義縣長翁章梁]]
“這是百年歷史，那今天布袋新塭今天最熱鬧，我說濃濃的台灣人的人情味，用最慎重的典禮在這迎接客王”

[[立委(民) 蔡易餘]]
“感謝大家一起來我自己的故鄉新塭，來參加盛大的衝水路迎客王活動”

每年農曆3月27日是王爺的聖誕，傳說在外巡守的王爺，會聚集在一艘無形王船上，海水漲潮時王船順著溪流進入王船碼頭，接著到嘉應廟作客並接受信眾參拜，是當地一年一度的重要宗教盛事。

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