Exhibition at Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival Museum

This permanent exhibition is located at the Keelung Mid-Summer Ghost Festival Museum on the first floor of the Zhupu Altar (Main Salvation Altar), which serves as the central site for the Purdue Ceremony during the Festival.
Origin of the Keelung Zhongyuan Purdue Ritual
In 1855, following the armed conflicts between Zhangzhou and Quanzhou settlers, Keelung gentries established a surname-based rotation for the Zhongyuan Purdue Ritual to mend regional rifts. By taking turns hosting this annual festival, the clans provide prayers and offerings to collectively appease the wandering souls lost in the violence while fostering communal harmony. This practice has been faithfully preserved to this day and is officially recognized as one of the twelve major national festivals in Taiwan.
The Exhibition
The exhibition design integrates Keelung’s unique geography—nestled between the mountains and the sea—with imagery inspired by historical scrolls and Taoist divination blocks (Jiaobei / moon blocks). Fluid, sweeping curves throughout the space evoke a sense of inclusivity, creating an open, bright, and welcoming atmosphere.
The collection features a diverse range of artifacts, including ritual implements and talismans. At the heart of the display is a series of exquisite and vibrantly colored folk arts: intricate pasted-paper sculptures (hú-zhǐ), ornate floating lantern houses (shuǐ-dēng), and dough-based symbolic food offerings (kàn-shēng) crafted for wandering spirits. Also on display is a sacred Dou-deng (Celestial Bucket Lantern) representing the respective clan association, alongside ceremonial banners and instruments from Beiguan ensembles, the primary music for the Festival’s traditional troupes.
Visitors can explore the origins and rituals of the Festival through the perspectives of key figures involved in the ceremonies. By scanning QR codes, visitors can access video interviews that provide a deeper look into the work of traditional artisans. Upon departing, visitors are encouraged to follow the Keelung Culture and Tourism Map for a self-guided stroll through the city.
As the only museum in Taiwan dedicated exclusively to the Zhongyuan Purdue Ritual, this exhibition holds profound cultural and educational significance.