The Songs of Seven Mountains

Baguashan Power Art Festival 2024 curated by Yujun Ye

 (Cheung Ji Hall Jinguashih, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

The Songs of Seven Mountains was about the Jinguashih mountains and the protector of the Land (Cheung Ji Hall Jinguashih, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

I spent two hours at the temple site, contemplating and envisioning the night before the performance for the next day's event. The site featured five murals that depicted the story of a general who protected the mountains and people. Nestled amidst the breathtaking mountain- The Cheun Ji Hall temple (stands as a tribute) to the revered guardian of the mountains. Its serene presence invites visitors to explore the rich spiritual heritage and connect with the majestic natural surroundings. I followed the fey signs represented by wrapped cloth bags in the murals and by the statue on the right, which also held a wrapped cloth. The temple was surrounded by mountains and inhabited by various plants and living beings. The night landscape appeared beautiful as I immersed myself in these elements, and The true nature of my connections would unfold during the performance.

Eventually, the other day, I chose to use a branch for my performance, so I searched for a long time until I found the perfect one. Daisuke Takeya helped me locate some branches behind the car. I chose the first branch I collected and placed it in the temple complex. However, the woman who cleans the temple complex removed it and tossed it into the bushes. With effort, we managed to retrieve it and return it to the temple complex, but unfortunately, someone threw it far away again. Eventually, we found another branch. I had to make some compromises and use this one instead. It did not fit properly on my head, and I struggled to balance it, but I had to make do with what I had. I began by performing a small ritual outside the temple complex. I walked while balancing a branch on my head, entering the temple grounds, standing near each mural and aligning with the mountains to perform the ritual. The wood branch I used looked exceptional, with one green leaf still attached, symbolizing the presence of life. I marked the ground with a square with the scared ashes metaphorically representing the universe and the four directions. Inside the square, I placed five silver Sun Coins, Five silver moon coins, and copper footprint sheet coins that symbolically represented the day/night cycle and resonated with nature and my surroundings. I performed a ritualistic action by showing a mirror to the protector of the land. This act symbolically revealed the beauty within oneself and reflected its light.

I possess a profound awareness of emotions and feelings, and my experiences during the trip visits to temples and historical sites significantly influenced my experience throughout Taiwan. Each site offered a distinctive perspective that enriched my understanding of the cultural and spiritual dimensions of the region. My presence and movements guided the entire journey and the experiences that involved rituals that celebrated the land of Formosa. I had no control over this experience. This journey metamorphosed into a shamanic pilgrimage for me; subconsciously, I felt directed and guided to perform as a priest at the festival.

Dimple B Shah

21 November 2024