9/1 City God Night Patrol of Zhuluo City: Deity Generals' "Sweeping the Road Corners" Reenacted for the First Time to Ensure Peace and Safety

"City God night patrol, the 'good brothers' return to the ranks!" During the seventh lunar month when the gates of the underworld open, the Chiayi City God Temple, a national historic site, will hold the bustling "City God Night Patrol of the Zhuluo Realm, Expelling Demons and Spirits So the People May Be Safe" on the 1st day of the 8th lunar month (September 1 on the solar calendar). So the good brothers do not overstay their leave, this year for the first time the extremely rare "City God Sweeping the Road Corners" ritual, which is at risk of being lost, has been added; at that time, formations will be performed at the five intersections where car accidents most often occur to catch ghosts and pray for blessings and safety for all the people!

Mayor Twu Shiing-jer emphasized that the only ancient-costume-style procession troupe in all of Taiwan is the greatest feature of the night patrol pilgrimage. In addition to displaying the City God's instruments of yin-yang judgment such as the Book of Life and Death, the Mirror of Karma, and the Cauldron of Hell, a prison cart and prisoners wearing head shackles and handcuffs are also arranged to parade through the streets, edifying the people's hearts and warning the world not to do evil; the "cangue-carrying blessing" to seek good fortune and avoid calamity is widely praised. Now in its third year, the night patrol event welcomes people from all over the country to come together to Chiayi to enjoy the spectacle and witness this unique religious, historical and cultural grand event of Chiayi City.

Chairman of the City God Temple Ye Yuan-zhu stated that the "road corners" of "Sweeping the Road Corners" refer to the intersections of major roads where car accidents often occur. In order to prevent wandering ghosts and lone spirits from lingering at intersections to seize substitutes for reincarnation, commonly known as "seizing substitutes," this night patrol specially respectfully invites the City God, who governs yin and yang, to "inspect," and the Generals Fan and Xie before his carriage perform formations to drive away "seizing substitutes," praying for blessings and peace for the people. In the Sweeping the Road Corners lineup, the constable squad leader deity generals Dong and Li, who are responsible for carrying out punishment on prisoners when the City God holds court, exist on the main island of Taiwan only at the Chiayi City God Temple, apart from the offshore island of Kinmen, making them quite unique.

The police department also reminds the public to remember to slow down when passing through intersections. In addition, this year for the first time "Welcoming the City God and Crawling Under the Sedan Chair" has been added, opening seven locations for the public to crawl under the sedan chair; the first 100 people can also receive a City God Night Patrol flashing light souvenir, and everyone is welcome to line up early so that the City God may add spiritual protection, eliminate calamities, drive away evil and bring good fortune.