News

    The largest peach-shaped sticky rice cake in Taiwan, weighing over 7 tons, was unveiled on occasion of the Lantern Festival! The 2017 peach-shaped rice cake sharing activity, which is an important Lantern Festival event in Nantou County was held in a grand fashion on the Shoutian Temple square on Songbo Ridge in Mingjian Township on February 11th. A group of around 200 local representatives and worshippers led by County mayor Ming-Chen Lin and Jui-Pin Hsu, Chairman of the Shoutain Temple Administration Committee, jointly carried the giant rice cake over a distance of around 1km to the temple square. The huge peach-shaped sticky rice cake was unveiled and shared among worshippers who formed a long line to receive their portion.

    County mayor Lin pointed out that the offering of a giant rice cake on occasion of the Lantern Festival at Shoutian Temple is a long-held tradition dating back to 1997. Worshippers throw Jiaobei blocks to request good fortune and jointly create a huge rice cake to return the favor. This cake is shared with other worshippers. The 300-kg cakes made 20 years ago gradually turned into the 7-ton cake of today. Worshippers all over Taiwan love this activity, which is a famous Lantern Festival celebration event on the island. This grand event attracts large crowds of worshippers every year. Visitors are welcome to come to the temple to get their share of the cake and pray for good fortune, peace, and career success.

    County mayor Lin, Chairman Hsu, County Councilors Hsiu-Ying Yu and Yen-Hsueh Lai, Mingjian Township Mayor Wen-Te Chen, and Civil Affairs Department Chief Yen-Ling Wu led a group of 200 worshippers in carrying the peach-shaped sticky rice cake from the Shoutian Temple Welcome Gate to the main hall of the temple. The holy palanquin of Emperor Ye guided the worshippers on their way. The unveiling ceremony was jointly conducted by Legislator Shu-Hua Hsu and all guests led by County mayor Lin. The 7-ton cake was officially presented accompanied by chants (a pun on the weight of the cake in Chinese) and blessings for good fortune and financial success in the year of the rooster. County mayor Lin then led all worshippers in offering incense to Xuantian Emperor and praying for favorable weather, prosperity, and peace. Upon the incense offering, little pear-shaped rice cakes were distributed among the worshippers in a lively atmosphere.

    Mr. Jui-Pin Hsu, Shoutain Temple Administration Committee Chairman, stated that the temple is dedicated to the Xuantian Emperor. In the early years of the temple, worshippers would raise funds to create rice cakes or peach-shaped buns weighing several hundred pounds every year on occasion of the Lantern Festival. These treats were shared with friends, relatives, and worshippers from all over Taiwan. This year, worshippers created a giant cake weighing over 7 tons. He revealed that the committee considers applying for a Guinness World Record in the future to showcase this achievement to the whole world.