Oracle poems are not only part of religious practice, but also carry multiple meanings related to cultural interpretation, knowledge transmission, and social communication. Centered on the oracle poem culture of Taiwanese folk belief, this series of events features two thematic field tours that guide participants in reexamining the interactive relationship between religious texts and society from the dual perspectives of historical context and contemporary practice.
The tours will be guided by Professor Shu-Ju Lee of the Department of Chinese Literature, National Cheng Kung University, an expert in this field, and moderated by Professor Yu-Cheng Liao of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, National Pingtung University. This is a rare opportunity, and friends from all fields are warmly encouraged to register early.
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The first session, “Official Sacrificial Xingji Temple: The Presence of the State—Folk Belief and Oracle Poem Culture,” will take participants on a field visit to Official Sacrificial Xingji Temple in Tainan. This session will explore how state power enters the sphere of folk belief and shapes the formation, interpretation, and circulation mechanisms of oracle poems, further analyzing the relationship between religious practice and institutional authority.
Time: Monday, April 27, 2026, 14:00–16:00
Meeting Point: Official Sacrificial Xingji Temple, Tainan
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The second session, “Dongshi Yulong Temple: Walking with the Divine—The Systematic Development and Modern Applications of Oracle Poems,” will take participants on a field visit to Yulong Temple in Dongshi, Chiayi. This session will focus on the construction and development of oracle poem systems, as well as their transformation and application in contemporary society, showing how traditional belief operates and takes on new significance in modern contexts.
Time: Monday, May 18, 2026, 13:00–17:00
Meeting Point: Stone tables in front of the Hsiu-Chi Building, Kuang-Fu Campus, National Cheng Kung University
