Episode Details

"Battle array" is a traditional Taiwanese form of street art whose performers must have a good background in martial arts. After undergoing several hundred years of history and various social changes, battle array has developed into a program for showing respect to Heaven and entertaining the gods. This documentary introduces the origin of battle array, including its introduction into Taiwan with ancestral immigrants, how it took roots amongst farm villages, and its use by farmers as a form of physical activity during the off-season. With its lively framing and rich hues, the film depicts the dazzling colors of the lives of common folks. It also draws viewers into it so well that they feel as if they were personally performing the battle array at various festivals and temple fairs, touring small towns and villages while showing their respect to the gods.

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