Welcoming the City God (迎城隍) · The Road Home: Local Practice from a Centennial Festival to Youth Cultural Action

"Welcoming the City God" (迎城隍) is Fengyuan's most representative folk festival. It not only carries local history but also symbolizes social order, protection, and the spirit of community. This lecture will start from the developmental context of Fengyuan's "Welcoming the City God," leading the audience to re-understand how local beliefs shape urban culture, and exploring the deep connections between rituals, Yi-zhen (藝陣) performance groups, temple courtyard spaces, and local residents.
In addition to historical and cultural perspectives, the lecture will also share observations and actions of returning youth deeply rooted in the locality, including cultural tours, local educational materials, community collaboration, and innovative projects in partnership with the City God Temple. In particular, recent cases such as the "Youth Proposal Project" and "Junior Chamber International (JCI) Sedan Chair Participation" demonstrate how traditional festivals, through cross-generational cooperation, transform from rituals into a new force for community cohesion. It is hoped that more people will see that "Welcoming the City God" is not just a religious activity, but also an important platform connecting culture, education, public welfare, and youth energy.