Taiwan-Japan Cultural Exchange Strengthens as Taiwan World Heritage Nomination Support Association Visits Penghu to Witness Lantern Festival “Turtle Praying” Tradition
Penghu County Government
2025-02-11
218
-
Penghu’s lively Lantern Festival “Ciguei” (meaning “praying for turtles”) festivities are now in full swing across the islands. Today (February 11), the Taiwan World Heritage Nomination Support Association, a Japanese nongovernmental organization, returned to Penghu to meet with County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu and experience this century-old folk tradition and cultural belief firsthand. Magistrate Chen warmly welcomed the Japanese guests and expressed his belief that Penghu’s unique cultural heritage would offer them an unforgettable journey. He hoped this cultural exchange would further deepen Taiwan-Japan friendship and foster closer emotional ties between the two sides.
Chen noted that Penghu’s unique maritime culture and traditional fishing lifestyle have given rise to the deeply rooted Ciguei custom celebrated during the Lantern Festival. The ritual symbolizes prayers for favorable weather, bountiful catches, and family well-being, while also reflecting the wisdom of the Penghu people and their reverence for nature. Over time, Ciguei has become one of Taiwan’s four major Lantern Festival celebrations, beloved by locals and tourists alike.
Last June (2024), the Taiwan World Heritage Nomination Support Association visited Penghu to explore the island’s traditional stone weirs. This year, they returned to take part in the Ciguei custom, experiencing the vibrant Lantern Festival culture up close. Chen also highlighted Penghu’s two potential World Heritage sites: its basalt formations and historic stone weirs. Along with the internationally acclaimed Penghu International Fireworks Festival, he expressed hope that the association would help introduce the charm of Penghu and its Ciguei tradition to a broader Japanese audience, drawing greater international attention to the richness of the archipelago’s cultural heritage.
Since its founding in 2013, the Taiwan World Heritage Nomination Support Association has been dedicated to enhancing global recognition of Taiwan’s cultural heritage. The group brought together ten writers to publish a book featuring Taiwan’s 18 potential World Heritage sites, using cultural storytelling to help Japanese readers better understand Taiwan’s unique identity. Magistrate Chen concluded by emphasizing that culture is a vital bridge for international exchange, and expressed his hope for continued cooperation with Japanese partners to bring Penghu’s traditions to the global stage and showcase its multifaceted charm.
Yuichi Katagi, board member of the Taiwan World Heritage Nomination Support Association, stated that the association has selected 18 cultural and natural sites in Taiwan with World Heritage potential, aiming to deepen understanding of their value through study and field visits. He recalled his first visit to Penghu in 2018, where the group explored the island’s traditional stone weir culture. The delegation, composed of around 80 visitors from Osaka and Fukuoka, was warmly welcomed by then-Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu, leaving a lasting impression. Katagi expressed his joy at returning to Penghu once again, noting two key reasons for selecting the island as a destination.
First, Penghu is home to two sites with World Heritage potential. Second, he personally visits Penghu every year and has experienced both the Ciguei ritual and the awe-inspiring martial palanquin parade—traditional customs that have made Penghu feel not just like a place of cultural exchange, but like a warm and welcoming second home.
