Have you ever seen a ship set on fire? 🔥 In Fujian Province, there’s an amazing ceremony where people do just that to bring good luck! It’s called the Wangchuan ceremony, also known as Ong Chun.
In this ancient ritual, locals build a big, beautifully decorated model ship called the Wangchuan, which means “King’s ship”. They load it with all sorts of offerings like food, fruits, and paper-made treasures. Then, they set it ablaze on the beach! As the flames light up the night sky, everyone watches in awe.
Why do they burn the ship? The people believe that as the ship burns and sails away, it takes all the bad luck and misfortunes with it. The smoke and fire are thought to drive away disasters and bring peace and good fortune, especially for sailors and those who work at sea.
This special tradition has been passed down for generations, connecting communities in coastal areas of the Chinese mainland and even in places like Melaka, Malaysia. It’s such an important part of the culture that in 2011, it was named a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China. In 2020, UNESCO added it to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list!
Isn’t it fascinating how traditions like the Wangchuan ceremony bring people together and keep history alive? Would you like to see this fiery festival someday?
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
