Yang Shihan: Experiencing Chaoshan’s “Ying Laoye” — Where Faith Meets Fireworks and Tradition
Every year during the first lunar month , the region of Chaoshan awakens with a surge of unique cultural energy and festive excitement . Deafening drums and gongs , fluttering ceremonial banners , the rapid crackle of firecrackers , and crowds filling every street and alley —together they create one of the most iconic folk traditions deeply rooted in the spirit of the Chaoshan people: Ying Laoye (Parading the Deities). It is not merely a deity procession, but a living cultural ritual that has been passed down for more than a century. For the people of Chaoshan , it represents the most sincere expression of devotion—to their homeland, to their deities, and to the rhythm of everyday life. I. What is "Ying Laoye"? In the Chaoshan dialect, “Ying” means to welcome or parade , while “Laoye” (literally “Lord”) refers to the guardian deity of a community . These deities may include the Three Mountain Kings , Mazu , Anji Shengwang , or Fude Zhengshen —each worshipped by genera...