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Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park Celebrates the Earth God's Birthday with Traditional Bajin Music, Floral Arrangement Competition, and Picnic Concert
- Source:客家文化發展中心
- Publication Date:2025/03/02
- Last updated:2025/05/17
- Count Views:130
Bagong (土地公, meaning “God of the Land” in the Hakka language) is the most commonly worshipped deity in Hakka culture, revered as a protective and familiar elder figure. To celebrate Bagong’s birthday, which falls on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar, the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center (THCDC) organized a celebratory festival, featuring a picnic, outdoor concert, games, and competitions.
One of the highlights of the event was the traditional Three Offerings ritual, which was accompanied by a performance of Hakka bayin music. Through the ritual and the day’s various activities, THCDC aimed to promote the folk belief in Bagong, as well as the Hakka village lifestyle and the Hakka language to the broader public.
Ho Chin-liang (何金樑), Director-General of THCDC, noted that “Panhua (盤花),” or flower arrangement, is a cultural tradition unique to the Liugdui region. Villagers use fresh flowers from their gardens to carefully layer blossoms on a plate, creating offerings for gods or ancestors. This practice embodies the Hakka values of respect and gratitude toward both nature and the divine. The festival included a Panhua competition with three categories—Traditional, Creative, and Family—drawing over 1,000 participants.
Held by the lakeside at the Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park, the picnic featured lively performances by well-known entertainers, including Hakka singer Huang Wei-jie (黃瑋傑), Hakka theater, ventriloquism, and magic shows. Promoting a philosophy of slow living, the picnic provided a multisensory cultural experience.
The Tahuofang Art Troupe (大夥房藝術團) was invited to perform traditional Hakka bayin music during the Three Offerings ritual. Director-General Ho and Chen Mei-yen, head of THCDC’s Performance and Exhibition Division, served as ritual officiants, underscoring gender equality and the transmission of tradition. Participants offered their intricately crafted flower arrangements to Bagong, of which many created collaboratively by family members across three generations, reflecting a deep-rooted cultural identity.
