Yunlin Linnei Jiuxiongfu Palace held a Mid-Autumn Festival land-turning making activity to inherit the folk custom of gratitude

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, farmers in Yunlin plant "land axes" in front of their farmland so that the landmen can use them when patrolling their fields. (Photo by reporter Huang Shuli)

Today (25th) is the Mid-Autumn Festival. In addition to worshiping the Earth God, eating moon cakes and barbecues, there is also a unique folk custom in the central region. Early in the morning, farmers will plant a bamboo "Tudigong crutch" with gold paper and incense tied to it in the field. Song Xinfa, the chairman of Jiuxiong Fude Palace in Linnei, said that this is a folk custom of thanksgiving and blessing. The bamboo is used as a crutch by the land official when he patrols the fields and water, and the gold paper is to thank him for protecting the farming and the farmers' hard work, and to continue to bless the harvest in the coming year.

In order to pass on this folk custom activity of thanksgiving during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiuxiong Fude Palace specially called on the teachers and students of Jiuxiong Elementary School to join hands with the community elders to make land transfers. The children watched and asked questions curiously, and followed the elders to tie gold paper and incense.

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Song Xinfa said that in rural society, every Mid-Autumn Festival, farmers would make their own earth gong crutches and insert them in the fields. They would also prepare mochi and earth gong gold paper to worship at the edges of the fields, informing the earth gong of the new crutches and asking him to bless the harvest and protect their homes. As the times have progressed, this Mid-Autumn Festival custom has become rare. He hopes that through the event, more people will know this folk custom of thanksgiving.

Qiu Shiwen, a former Yunlin County councilor, said that the land donation is not only a folk custom during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but also a way for farmers to pray for God and earth with a humble heart towards nature and all things. Through the land donation making activities, children can identify with the local culture and learn to be grateful.

Song Xinfa said that it is very popular to ask the Tudigong for blessing when the Tudigong is done well. Last year, 1,200 tubes were sent, which was in short supply. This year, the number was increased by 600. A total of 1,800 tubes were sent to local people, believers and Tudigong temples in various villages in Linnei Township. If you visit the Fude Palace today, you can get one for free.

Yunlin Linneixiang Jiuxiong Fude Temple calls on community elders to teach them how to do "land public transfer". (Photo by reporter Huang Shuli)