Live
play
  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Coronavirus
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
  • More
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Climate
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts

In Pictures

Gallery

An explosive start to the Chinese New Year in Taiwan

In this 19th-century festival, legend has it, cholera ravaged Yanshui until the god of war was summoned with fireworks.

A 'beehive' loaded with hundred of thousands of rockers is set off into the crowd at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. Legend has it that the festival originated during a cholera outbreak in the 19th century. Such platforms fire around 200,000 rockets in two directions. It is considered 'lucky' to be struck by a rocket. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A 'beehive' loaded with hundred of thousands of rockers is set off into the crowd at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. Legend has it that the festival originated during a cholera outbreak in the 19th century. Such platforms fire around 200,000 rockets in two directions. It is considered 'lucky' to be struck by a rocket. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
By 
Dave Tacon
13 Feb 2017
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Yanshui, Taiwan – The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival is unquestioningly one the world’s most dangerous celebrations. Essential attire includes motorcycle helmets, ear plugs and old, non-flammable clothes. Crowds gather around ‘beehives’: firework launching platforms that can fire can fire up to 600,000 rockets in two directions.

Legend has it that the festival originated during a cholera outbreak in the 19th century. According to Wu Zenhung, chief secretary of Da Tzung Temple, cholera ravaged Yanshui until a local shaman summoned Guan Gong, the god of war. Guan Gong agreed to appear on the condition that he was greeted with fireworks.

“The sulphur in the firecrackers killed the germs,” explains Wu, who grew up with the annual tradition. His earliest memory is preparing boxes of fireworks with his family as the community competed for Guan Gong’s favour with ever increasing arsenals at Chinese New Year.

“Commercial sponsorship has made the beehives bigger than ever,” says Wu. “But it’s not as dangerous as it was 30 or 40 years ago. No one used to wear helmets and, sometimes, bystanders got hit.”

The Bombing of Master Handan, which takes place simultaneously in Taitung, 250km southeast by road, involves brave men dressed in little more than red boxer shorts, a red bandana and a yellow scarf. As they are paraded on sedan chairs, masked men from local temples hurl “bombs” made of firecrackers at their bare flesh. This ritual is intended to please a local god, Handan, who cannot stand the cold. The firecrackers are intended to warm Master Handan, so that the people of Taitung will be blessed. It is also rumoured to be a gangster initiation rite.

The Yanshui Beehive Rocket Festival and the Bombing of Master Handan, took place on February 10 and 11.

Members of Shung family pray and light incense in front of a 'beehive' rocket launching platform (not pictured). According to local legend, the festival originated when locals set off fireworks after calling upon Gaun Gong, the god of war, to rid the town of a two-decade long cholera epidemic. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Members of Shung family pray and light incense in front of a 'beehive' rocket launching platform (not pictured). According to local legend, the festival originated when locals set off fireworks after calling upon Gaun Gong, the god of war, to rid the town of a two-decade long cholera epidemic. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Firecrackers are ignited at the base of sedan chairs carrying holy figures at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. This celebration is said to be the third-largest folk festival in the world. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Firecrackers are ignited at the base of sedan chairs carrying holy figures at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. This celebration is said to be the third-largest folk festival in the world. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A member of Sheun Wu Temple is readied for the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. The festival, now part of Taiwan's nationwide Lantern Festival, is rumoured to have evolved from a gangster initiation ritual and is now a tourist draw. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A member of Sheun Wu Temple is readied for the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. The festival, now part of Taiwan's nationwide Lantern Festival, is rumoured to have evolved from a gangster initiation ritual and is now a tourist draw. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Firecrackers explode around a participant of the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. Master Handan (who this year was represented by around 40 participants) wears only red shorts, a bandana and a wet towel. Participants wear ear plugs and protective goggles, but only a carry a bunch of banyan tree branches for protection. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Firecrackers explode around a participant of the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. Master Handan (who this year was represented by around 40 participants) wears only red shorts, a bandana and a wet towel. Participants wear ear plugs and protective goggles, but only a carry a bunch of banyan tree branches for protection. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A crowd wearing motorcycle helmets wait for rockets to be launched directly at them during the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A crowd wearing motorcycle helmets wait for rockets to be launched directly at them during the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A 'beehive' in the form of the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants is launched at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. The structure is more than four metres square and loaded with 15,000 rockets. Adherents to Taoism, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism seek to honour Guan Gong, the god of war, with fireworks and receive the god’s blessing for the Chinese New Year. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A 'beehive' in the form of the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants is launched at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. The structure is more than four metres square and loaded with 15,000 rockets. Adherents to Taoism, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism seek to honour Guan Gong, the god of war, with fireworks and receive the god’s blessing for the Chinese New Year. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Shen Mong Chang and his grandmother, Huang Tsui Yu, play on the eve of the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. Chang's grandfather and his family constructed a 'beehive' fireworks launching platform in the shape of the boy's favourite cartoon character, SpongeBob SquarePants. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Shen Mong Chang and his grandmother, Huang Tsui Yu, play on the eve of the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. Chang's grandfather and his family constructed a 'beehive' fireworks launching platform in the shape of the boy's favourite cartoon character, SpongeBob SquarePants. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A man in face paint from a traditional opera takes part in a procession at the opening festivities at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
A man in face paint from a traditional opera takes part in a procession at the opening festivities at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
One of the first 'beehives' is launched at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. Due to the danger of being struck by flying rocket, attendees improvise protective measures, including fireproof clothing and motorcycle helmets. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
One of the first 'beehives' is launched at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. Due to the danger of being struck by flying rocket, attendees improvise protective measures, including fireproof clothing and motorcycle helmets. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Members of Sheun Wu Temple gather bundles of firecrackers for the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. These bundles are lit and then hurled at bare-chested participants who believe they are protected by Handan, a local deity. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Members of Sheun Wu Temple gather bundles of firecrackers for the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. These bundles are lit and then hurled at bare-chested participants who believe they are protected by Handan, a local deity. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Visitors at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, many carrying plastic cases containing statues of Guan Gong, the god of war, turn their backs to an onslaught of small rockets shot from a 'beehive' are launching platforms during the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Visitors at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, many carrying plastic cases containing statues of Guan Gong, the god of war, turn their backs to an onslaught of small rockets shot from a 'beehive' are launching platforms during the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Firecracker debris from the Bombing of Master Handan Festival in which bundles of firecrackers are hurled at participants. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Firecracker debris from the Bombing of Master Handan Festival in which bundles of firecrackers are hurled at participants. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Local school children in traditional costume with percussion instruments walk in a procession during the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival that greets the first moon of the Lunar New Year. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Local school children in traditional costume with percussion instruments walk in a procession during the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival that greets the first moon of the Lunar New Year. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Firecrackers explode around a participant of the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. Although participants are given a bunch of birch branches for protection, most choose to hold the branch aloft and let the bombs of firecrackers explode near their bare flesh. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]
Firecrackers explode around a participant of the Bombing of Master Handan Festival. Although participants are given a bunch of birch branches for protection, most choose to hold the branch aloft and let the bombs of firecrackers explode near their bare flesh. [Dave Tacon/Al Jazeera]

Related

Residents set off fireworks on the eve of Lunar New Year in Beijing, China. [Ng Han/AP Photo]

Chinese Lunar New Year: Year of the Rooster

China’s main annual holiday attracts crowds at home and abroad in celebration marked by fireworks and lamps.

camera
A series of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations have ushered in the Year of the Monkey. [Joshua Paul/AP]

Fireworks and dragon dances usher in Year of the Monkey

Colourful festivities get under way as communities around the world celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

camera
More from Gallery

In Pictures: Indonesia’s Merapi volcano unleashes river of lava

Mount Merapi is Indonesia's most active volcano [Agung Supriyanto/AFP]

Photos: How COVID vaccine travelled 1,700km to an Indian village

A van delivers the vaccine developed by Oxford University-AstraZeneca at Mathalput Community Health Centre in Koraput. [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Photos: Farmers’ protests overshadow India’s Republic Day parade

A farmer covers his face to protect himself from tear gas during the protest in New Delhi. [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

In Pictures: Rioters battle Dutch police over COVID-19 lockdown

A man is arrested by police during clashes in Rotterdam on Monday. [Marco De Swart/EPA]
Most Read

GameStop: Why social media-driven traders are beating Wall Street

GameStop, a struggling US video game retailer, has seen its share price surge from below $3 in April 2020 to more than $373 on Wednesday [File: Carlo Allegri/Reuters]

Indian farmers call off parliament march after deadly violence

A farmer holds a sword during a protest against farm laws at the historic Red Fort in Delhi [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

Biden administration pauses weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE

An F-35B fighter jet lands at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in this December 10, 2013 file photo [File: Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo]

US flies B-52 bombers over Middle East for third time this year

The US conducted six Middle East flyovers with B-52 bombers since November [Courtesy of CENTCOM]
  • About
    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
  • Our Channels
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
  • Our Network
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners
Follow Al Jazeera English:rssinstagramyoutubetwitterfacebook
logo
© 2021 Al Jazeera Media Network