Escorting the Plague Spirits to Sea

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Yu Chi Chou, Taiwan
• Studio
  Good Job Design

On the night of the 2024 Donggang King Boat Ceremony, I photographed the Grand Premier leading a sea of devotees from Donglong Temple to Zhenhai Park. The King Boat carried no statues, but was filled with symbolic tian-zai items—rice, salt, tea, writing tools, and ceremonial objects—honoring the Wang Ye and their retinue. The ritual climaxed with the burning of the boat, symbolizing the departure of plague spirits and a wish for peace. I captured the fluttering decree scrolls, the solemn face of the Grand Premier, and the vast crowd united in faith under the glow of firelight.