3-Meter Giant Puppet Costumes Appear in Pingzhen! '2026 Taoyuan Righteous Heroes Season' Begins Today, Running Until August 31 with Free Performances and Cultural Activities

The Taoyuan City Government Hakka Affairs Bureau has launched the '2026 Taoyuan Righteous Heroes Season,' with the first event, 'Night of Righteous Spirits – Commemorative Concert for the 131st Anniversary of the 1895 Yiwei Defense of Taiwan,' held at the 1895 Yiwei Defense of Taiwan Memorial Park. The event marked the debut of a nearly 3-meter-tall giant puppet costume co-created by residents of Longtan, Daxi, and Pingzhen, alongside a Hakka village market. The series will continue until August 31, featuring free performances by the Rongxing Tea-Picking Opera Troupe, traditional shoulder-pole parades, and family-friendly interactive games. The public can visit the official website for the latest schedule.

To honor the Hakka ancestors who defended their homeland during the Yiwei War, the Taoyuan City Government Hakka Affairs Bureau hosted an immersive nighttime memorial ceremony at the Pingzhen 1895 Yiwei Defense of Taiwan Memorial Park. The event was a cross-sector collaboration between Zu Meng Wu Ren, Ju Ju Gong Yan, and Yi Yong Puppet Theater, presenting the commemorative production 'Bloodline – Spirits of Righteous Valor,' which blends tap dance, modern theater, puppetry, and Hakka-language music. The ceremony unveiled the nearly 3-meter puppet costume for the first time, with local Hakka singers Ye Yu-Ting, Obi-Wang, and Akashic Archives Bureau performing in succession. Surrounding the event were a Hakka village market, cultural crafts, and hands-on workshops, allowing visitors to experience Hakka cultural depth through art.

The 2026 Taoyuan Righteous Heroes Season integrates with the Pingzhen District Office's Yimin Festival, transforming the righteous spirit from the late 18th-century Lin Shuangwen Incident and the late 19th-century Yiwei War into contemporary leisure activities. From now until August 31, a series of traditional events are scheduled, including performances by the nationally renowned Rongxing Tea-Picking Opera Troupe, traditional shoulder-pole street walks, and family challenge games that allow children to unlock Hakka cultural heritage through play.

Coinciding with the 131st anniversary of the Yiwei War, Xie Sheng-Xin, Director of the Hakka Development Center at the Hakka Affairs Commission, and Fan Jiang Tai-Ji, Director of the Taoyuan City Hakka Affairs Bureau, stated that to commemorate the heroic spirit of Hakka leaders such as Jiang Shao-Zu, Wu Tang-Xing, and Xu Xiang, the city government has transformed traditional rituals into modern cultural performances and interactive family experiences to encourage intergenerational participation.

For detailed program information and registration, the public can visit the official '2026 Taoyuan Righteous Heroes Season' website (https://hakkadata.tycg.gov.tw/28357/) for the latest updates.