Have you ever heard of the Giant Turtle King tradition? This Lantern Festival custom is a way for wealthy people to give back to their community. Every year, a Giant Turtle King is constructed by the local temple, made of rice. It is given to a volunteer, who will distribute the rice to those in need. The following year, the owner of the turtle must pay for an even larger turtle to be created. The largest turtle in Chiayi is made at Xiantian Temple in Dongshi Township. After many years, this Giant Turtle King has grown to truly grand proportions. Let’s head to Chiayi to find out more.

The Giant Turtle King sits on a forklift truck and slowly exits the temple square, surrounded by the clamour of drums and cymbals.

Behind him come countless tractors and heavy goods vehicles in a grand procession. This year, the turtle’s owner is this transportation company owner.

Mr. Lu
Owner of the Giant Turtle King
They say that if you receive the Giant Turtle King, you will have a year of good fortune. So I thought I’d give it a try. We had about 20-something tractors and seven or eight construction vehicles, because I run a transportation company. All the vehicles are out there on the roads. So I thought we could pray for their safety, pray they will all go out safely and have no issues and come home safe.

The rice turtle weighs 33,888 catties this year. After receiving the turtle for the year, the owner must spend a million dollars or more to reconstruct the turtle next year, and it must be heavier than ever. It’s too much of a financial burden for most locals, so it’s mostly a task that has fallen to company directors in recent years. The task is allotted through divination. Two candidates put themselves forward this year. With two positive divination results, Mr. Lu was clearly chosen by the god as the patron of the turtle.

Tsai Shun-chieh
Dongshi Xiantian Temple official
Our deity, Qian Sui, said that the Giant Turtle King must be allowed to keep growing, so it will get bigger and bigger.

Mr. Lu
Owner of the Giant Turtle King
The god is protecting us, keeping the whole company thriving. We don’t mind spending a little bit of money to repay him for that.

The giant turtle made of rice has been temporarily placed in an empty yard at Mr. Lu’s company. They’ve set up a tent just for him. On an auspicious day chosen by the temple, the turtle will be cut open and the white rice inside will be distributed to orphanages, charity groups and people in need - a blessing for the community.

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