EPISODE 15:

INSIGNIFICANT INJURIES

YANGSHUI & TAIJUNG, TAIWAN

The 15th day of the Chinese New Year, Chap Goh Mei, is commonly associated with romance, but in Taiwan, it’s become somewhat synonymous with war. The cities of Yangshui and Taijung celebrate the holiday with some of the most dangerous firework displays in the world. In Yangshui, the Beehive Festival deploys millions of bottle rockets into the streets as eager devotees of Guan Gong, the god of war, line up in thick coats and motorcycle helmets. Standing in front of massive racks of bottle rockets, they bravely attempt to be hit by as many as possible, with each painful strike considered as a blessing from Guan Gong himself. 

In Taijung, the bombing of Handan honors the god of military finances. Legend has it that Lord Handan hated the cold and so townspeople would throw firecrackers at him to keep him warm. So, on Chap Goh Mei, devotees stand shirtless on a sedan chair as they are carried through the city streets while thousands upon thousands of firecrackers are thrown at them. Fireworks have and always will be an important fixture of Chinese culture, but these two festivals share a similar mentality of pairing risk with belief, and the idea that blessings come to those who are willing to endure a struggle.