Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival / 左營萬年季
Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival
◎Text by Kuan-Chun Chen
◎Photos by Chung-Hui Pao
The annual Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival has become one of the most important festivals of Kaohsiung City. Residents and tourists gathered around Zuoying District and were impressed by the unique local characteristics. Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival has been successfully introduced to the entire island of Taiwan.
The 9-day Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival falls between November 21st and 30th this year. Activities are mostly held around the Lotus Pond area. Lotus Lake Pond, the most well-known tourist spot in Zuoying District, retains a unique atmosphere created by its numerous surrounding temples. This ambience has been the theme of Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival for years. With traditions like Chinese chess, Cruising Fire Lion and the Gun Fortress attack, Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival has transformed from a local activity into a traditional celebration exemplifying Taiwan's traditions, culture, religions, and beliefs.
This year, activities included in the Wannian Folklore Festival are: Wannian Students' Fun Competitions, Congregation of Folk Performance Groups, Traditional Gun Fortress Attack, Cruising Fire Lion at the Lotus Pond, "Chess Cake" Match, Wannian Orienteering Competition, Fire Lion Welcome Ceremony, and Reality Show on Boat-Shaped Stage. Each activity, along with the daily fireworks show, musical performances, and theme displays attracted numerous tourists and residents.
To highlight the religious aspect of this festival, the opening ceremony featured a joint performance brought by folk performance groups from temples around Zuoying District. This action not only stimulates the cultural interactions between temples, but also represents the theme of the Wannian Folklore Festival - religious tolerance and community cooperation. The ceremony began with the Fire Lion Eye-Dotting ritual, followed by the themed show which reproduces various scenes from the Cheng Cheng-Kung Army Story. With the water dance and fireworks, the Army's brave departure, the fierce battlefield and the joyful victory are recreated through drum performance, flag dance, and magnificent special effects. The climax of the ceremony is the performance delivered by the Military Academy and the folk performance groups. Combining Zuoying the area's religion, history, and military atmosphere, the ceremony indeed expresses the essence of Zuoying District.
In addition to the religious tone, the closing ceremony also featured an exciting parade. Folk performance groups from each temple gathered around the Tian Fu Temple at seven in the evening to begin the Fire Lion's cruising tour. City government officials, led by Mayor Chen, closely followed the Wannian Lotus Lamp. With gongs and drums reverberating through the air, parade participants then arrived at the main stage. The Fire Lion is then set on the stage while all folk performance groups carry out the Well-being Prayer. On behalf of Kaohsiung City, Mayor Chen shot the firing arrow to burn the Lion, symbolizing that the Fire Lion relays everyone's wishes to heaven. Under the splendid fireworks and joyful aura, the Wannian Folklore Festival officially ended.
It is worth noting that artists from Edinburgh, UK were invited to this year's Wannian Folklore Festival in the hope of introducing this festival to the international community. Hopefully next year, the Wannian Folklore Festival will attract more foreign tourists and become an international festival.
左營萬年季
◎文／王御風
◎攝影／鮑忠暉
一年一度的左營萬年季，已經成為本市重大節慶活動之一，吸引了大批的高雄市民及觀光客，對於左營地區的特色也留下深刻印象，讓左營萬年季成功行銷到全台灣。
今年的左營萬年季活動自11月21日起到11月30日，為期９天。主要舉辦地點仍在蓮池潭，蓮池潭為左營地區最負盛名的景點，附近眾多的寺廟，更形成特殊的氛圍，多年來的左營萬年季也以此為主軸，配合象棋、迓火獅、攻炮城等傳統技藝，多年來建立的傳統，使其從地方的宗教民俗活動發展為全國性足以代表台灣傳統、文化、宗教、信仰的民俗慶典。
今年左營萬年季活動，內容包括有「萬年學子尬藝陣競賽」、「民俗陣頭大會師」、「傳統民俗攻炮城」挑戰準度拿好獎、「火獅大出巡」停駐環潭廟宇、「棋糕餅對弈賽」、「定向越野尋寶」、「迓火獅」、「船型舞台實境秀」等活動，搭配每天晚上的煙火秀、不同主題音樂饗宴及主題館，吸引許多民眾參與。
為強調宗教的特色，今年開幕式「火獅點睛」集結高雄在地各行政區之代表廟宇與陣頭進行會師表演，形成宗廟間的文化交流，更顯出萬年季的宗教的包容性與地方活絡而緊密的交流。而火獅開光點睛後，接續的是明鄭時期的主題實境秀代表著鄭家軍出征前的鼓振軍威、出戰時的疾風旗舞、勝利後的彩蝶紛飛，搭配水舞、煙火，而陸軍官校的藝陣表演氣勢磅礡與優質陣頭的精采表演，為活動譜出盛大序曲，結合宗教、歷史與左營軍區特色的開幕式，充滿左營獨樹一格的氣氛。
閉幕式除了有相同的宗教外，更加上遊行的熱鬧。各寺廟陣頭齊於晚間七點從天府宮出發「迓火獅」，陳菊市長領軍的市府團隊則緊跟在萬年寶蓮燈之後，隊伍浩浩蕩蕩，鑼鼓喧天，氣氛熱鬧盛況空前。遊行隊伍最後抵主舞台，將火獅安座於主舞台區，由各陣頭及表演團體做祈福展演，最後在陳菊市長代表全市祈願後，手持弓箭射向潭中將火獅點燃燒化，火獅將眾願帶到天上，萬年季也在滿天火樹銀花的熱鬧氣氛下，畫下最完美的句點。
更值得一提的是，今年萬年季活動更邀請英國愛丁堡的藝術專家來高雄經驗交流，讓萬年季與國際接軌，更讓人期待2009年的左營萬年季，能夠吸引更多外國觀光客，逐步成為國際性的盛會。