Taiwan temple culture showcased in Poland

Taiwan’s traditional temple culture was showcased in the Polish city of Lodz on Friday, drawing crowds with traditional music, deity processions, performances and a Taiwan-themed market.

Organized by the National Cultural Association of Taiwan (NCAT), the Taiwan Day event saw Taipei Gong Le Xuan and the Lei Sheng Art Group recreate the lively atmosphere of a Taiwanese temple square for local audiences.

Taipei Gong Le Xuan, a century-old Taiwanese Beiguan music ensemble, performed traditional music alongside a deity procession led by the Lei Sheng Art Group, a Taiwanese traditional performing arts group specializing in folk religious and temple performances.

Members of the Lei Sheng Art Group and Taipei Gong Le Xuan, a century-old Taiwanese Beiguan music ensemble, take part in traditional temple procession performances featuring deity generals during a Taiwan Day event in Lodz, Poland, on Friday. The event, hosted by the National Culture and Arts Foundation, showcased the unique charm of Taiwan’s temple culture to the Polish public.

Photo: CNA

Taipei Gong Le Xuan member Chen Li-ting (陳俐廷) said some of the group’s members were traveling overseas for the first time and had initially been nervous about how local audiences would respond to the traditional music.

However, the unfamiliar sounds drew considerable interest from Polish visitors, with many stopping to watch and record the performances on their phones, Chen said.

The troupe’s deity figures and traditional instruments also drew interest, with visitors taking photos and trying their hand at playing the instruments after the performances.

A Taiwan-themed market at the venue featured Taiwanese food, drinks, handicrafts and cultural activities, giving visitors an opportunity to experience aspects of Taiwan’s traditional and everyday culture.

Taiwan’s representative to Poland, Jeff Liu (劉永健), who attended the event, said it provided an opportunity to promote Taiwan’s culture overseas and introduce Taiwanese traditions and everyday life to Polish audiences.

Also attending the event was Lodz Deputy Mayor Adam Pustelnik, who said the event seamlessly blended Taiwanese culture with local Polish traditions and sentiments.

The event in Lodz is part of a tour of Austria, Hungary and Poland organized by the NCAT between Sept. 5 and 19, which features other aspects of Taiwanese culture such as contemporary dance.