A proposal on “terminating the sacred pig competition” on the Public Policy Participation Network Platform, which is set up by Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC), has been seconded by more than 7,000 advocates. Animal rights groups are now calling for government agencies to work together to halt animal cruelty.

Taking place in Hakka settlements across Taiwan every August, the Hakka Yimin Festival involves many religious rituals.

The sacred pig competition is usually regarded as one of the quintessential festive traditions during the Hakka Yimin Festival every August. Villagers compete against each other to raise the heaviest and largest pig, and the chosen pig that is deemed sacred will be killed and displayed in front of a temple on the final day of celebrations. However, this practice has been shrouded in controversy.

In the name of religious tradition, the competing pigs are raised in an inhumane way for two years. Being force-fed to gain weight, many of them cannot even stand on their legs. Ultimately, the chosen pig is slaughtered by having its throat deeply cut with a sharp knife even though it is still conscious. From cradle to grave, the pigs endure extreme cruelty and pain.

As early as 2011, over 100 Hakka luminaries — including singer Lin Sheng-xiang (林生祥), novelist Chung Chao-cheng (鍾肇政), and professor Lee Mau-sheng (李茂生) — launched a petition against the sacred pig competition and even declared that it is no longer part of Hakka culture. In 2016, the Ministry of Culture issued a statement saying that the practice hardly complements the Hakka Yimin Festival, which is an important part of the nation’s cultural heritage. 

Aiming to end animal abuse and promote animal rights, the proposal offers examples of animal protection in foreign countries as potential solutions for Taiwan to consider abolishing the controversial custom. For instance, a circus in Germany uses 3D holographic images to replace real animals, bringing the most magical performances to audience members.

In Spain, live bulls are substituted with inflatable bulls during certain bull-running events. In South Korea, the Busan Metropolitan City Government announced the closure of dog meat markets, turning the sanctioned consumption of dogs into history. The petitioners hope that the sacred pig competition in Taiwan can be replaced with a similar animal- and eco-friendly alternative.

Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) Deputy Minister Yiong Cong-ziin (楊長鎮) stated that the conflict between traditional culture and animal welfare is a universal one. The solution is to reconcile the preservation of religious rites with the protection of animal rights, Yiong added.