【Humans of Taipei】城隍出巡

“I am 63 years old. When I was five, our family moved from Miaoli to Taipei and we lived in the place where is now Daan Park. In the old neighborhood there were military dependents’ villages, there were Hakka families like mine, aboriginal families, and an international dormitory. It was a melting pot.

“Then the community had to be demolished. We were so reluctant, but it had to be that way. It had been a greenfield site for Park NO. 7 since Japanese colonial period. We moved to the public house in Nankang afterwards.

“I owned a company and then closed it. I take labour jobs everywhere in Taipei. Today, my boss took us to the Town God Temple fair. We act as police detectives. This is good. People see these criminals and know they can’t do bad things. Like our Director of Construction Ministry, he might end in one of these prisoner wagons.”

“I am from Sanchungpo. When I was in elementary school, I got interested in the temple activities and joined them. It’s been years and might continue before my compulsory military service starts next year. The Generals’ heads appeal to me more than the pat-ka-tsiong makeup. They are heavy. Each weighs 40 to 50 kg.

“But we have religious prohibitions before we put on these big heads. It is that we have to prevent any sexual activities.”