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On the second day of the 2025 Dragon Boat Festival long weekend, our "Sky-Patching Squad" came to the Lukang City God Temple. This quaint building is not only the guardian deity of the local area but also the core base for our exploration of the Jian Dui culture this time (thanks to Director Ching-Ju for helping to contact and make a reservation in advance). |
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Stepping into the temple, the heavy scent of incense and solemn atmosphere greeted us. We noticed that besides the devotees coming to pray for peace, the temple staff and volunteers have a deep identification with the custom of "eating Jian Dui on the Dragon Boat Festival." |
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During the interview, we learned that eating "Jian Dui" is related to the legend of "Nüwa Patching the Sky," praying for favorable weather in the coming year. |
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Jian Dui in Lukang is not just a "snack"; it is more like a ritual symbol. Observing Jian Dui in a temple environment, one can feel that the food is endowed with a soul that blesses people with peace, which is the biggest difference from buying it at a general market. |
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I found that although the crowds were surging during the Dragon Boat Festival, not many classmates truly understood the story of "Nüwa Patching the Sky." This made me realize that if no one records and explains it, this food custom might only be left with "eating" in the future, losing its "roots." |
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In Lukang, the protagonist of the Dragon Boat Festival is not zongzi, but—Jian Dui! Did you guess it right?
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Unlike the Public Assembly Hall, which only had a bustling crowd of receivers, this place had an added sense of reverence for the deities and adherence to tradition. |
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Looking to the future, perhaps our younger generation can also learn how to make Jian Dui, allowing the custom of "patching the sky" to be passed down from generation to generation, rather than just queuing to receive ready-made food. |
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