Penghu’s Lantern Festival Turtle Praying Tradition Comes Alive as Deputy Magistrate Lin Chieh-hsing Visits Temples to Pray for Peace and Prosperity
Penghu County Government
2026-03-03
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On the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, Penghu’s annual Lantern Festival celebrations officially got underway in vibrant fashion. Representing the Penghu County Government, Deputy Magistrate Lin Chieh-hsing visited Suogang Beiji Temple this afternoon (March 3), where he joined distinguished guests in offering incense prayers and participating in a ribbon-cutting blessing ceremony. Guided by temple masters, he also performed the traditional eye-dotting ritual for the Golden Turtle, praying for favorable weather and prosperity across all industries in the coming year. Lin later traveled to Shanshui Shangdi Temple to welcome the “Golden Spirit Turtle” back to its home temple. He joined temple representatives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and distributed candy to local residents to share the festive spirit, wishing everyone good fortune and success in the Year of the Horse.
In the evening, Lin attended the Lantern Festival blessing ceremony at Wenwang Temple in Wai’an, Siyu Township, where he joined local residents in lighting lanterns and praying for hope and peace in the new year.
Lin noted that the “Penghu Shangyuan Turtle Praying Tradition” stands alongside the Sky Lantern Festival in northern Taiwan, the Beehive Fireworks Festival in southern Taiwan, and Handan celebrations in eastern Taiwan as one of Taiwan’s four major Lantern Festival folk traditions. Last year, it was also officially registered as an item of intangible cultural heritage. Over the past century, the turtle praying tradition (Khit-ku) has continued to grow “bigger with every prayer” through the continuation of local faith and customs. What began with traditional glutinous rice turtle cakes has evolved into creative offerings such as rice turtles, golden turtles, and cabbage turtles, reflecting both the vitality of Penghu’s folk beliefs and the evolution of local culture.
Lin pointed out that the Lantern Festival is Penghu’s biggest annual celebration. As the local saying goes, “The Lunar New Year lasts three days, but Shangyuan lasts three nights,” highlighting how Penghu’s Lantern Festival festivities are even livelier than the Lunar New Year itself. During the Lantern Festival period, more than 100 temples across the county join together in celebration, organizing a wide variety of activities that combine temple history with local highlights, inviting residents and visitors alike to step into temple courtyards to pray for peace and experience the rich cultural heritage of Penghu.
Lin also noted that the “2026 Super Turtle – Explore Penghu Lantern Festival Stamp Rally and Lucky Draw” campaign has officially launched, inviting residents and tourists to spend the three-day Lantern Festival visiting temples across Penghu. Through collecting commemorative stamps, participants can gain deeper insight into local religious traditions and cultural stories while building emotional connections with the islands through the festive experience.
Lin added that the county magistrate was recently injured during an official engagement and expressed gratitude for the public’s concern and well wishes. During this season of Lantern Festival blessings, special prayers were also offered for the magistrate’s speedy recovery and return to public service, so he may continue leading Penghu forward.
During the Lantern Festival period, Suogang Beiji Temple has organized a series of festive activities, including blessings for a massive 9.75 kg Golden Turtle and a divination block (jiaobei) challenge featuring a golden squid. Outside the temple, visitors can also participate in wealth blessing activities, family-friendly lantern riddle games, crossing the Peace Bridge for blessings, and a local market, inviting the public to celebrate the Lantern Festival together.
The “Golden Diamond Spirit Turtle” at Shanshui Shangdi Temple is the largest golden turtle in Penghu and one of the highlights of the annual Lantern Festival. Thanks to additional offerings made in fulfillment of vows by last year’s winner, its weight has increased to 16.16 kg. A local saying goes: “Touch the turtle’s head and you’ll build a grand house; touch its tail and you’ll accumulate wealth; touch its shell and your business will prosper steadily; touch its feet and treasures will fill your home.” Every Lantern Festival, residents and visitors gather to admire the turtle and touch it from head to toe in hopes of prosperity and flourishing family fortunes.
Wenwang Temple in Wai’an, Siyu Township, dedicated to Lord Wen, has long served as the spiritual center of the local community, protecting the area and blessing fishermen with safe voyages and abundant catches for more than a century. In addition to the temple’s lantern blessing ceremonies held during the Lantern Festival each year, hundreds of fishing boats gather along the harbor after nightfall, illuminating the port with shimmering lights. The sparkling fishing harbor symbolizes brightness and prosperity in the year ahead while reflecting the fishing village’s strong sense of unity and hope for the future.
