Chief Secretary Wu said that more than a celebration, the Miaoli Dragon Bombing symbolizes the legacy of Hakka culture. As families gather for the Lunar New Year, the event takes place in five stages: the building of dragons, “eye-dotting” of dragons, welcoming of dragons, march with dragons, bombing of dragons, and return of dragons to the heavens. Each step conveys Hakka people’s veneration and gratitude towards the divine, as well as caring for the daily lives of local villagers. These ceremonies seek to bring blessings and ease for everyone in the coming year, yet also call on us to pass down the Hakka language.
Distinguished guests congregated at the event, including Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin, Miaoli City Mayor Yu Wen-chung, Miaoli City Representative Council Chairman Chen Jen-chieh, Legislators Chiu Chen-chun and Chen Chao-ming, Taiwan People's Party Founding Chairman Ko Wen-je, and Miaoli County Representative Council Deputy Speaker Chang Shu-fen. Together, they wielded brushes to consecrate and bless 15 auspicious dragons with cinnabar ink.
According to Miaoli’s Hakka tradition, the “eye-dotting” ceremony opens the Dragon Bombing events. It must be completed before praying to Guan Yu at the Yuqing Temple in Miaoli and setting off the dragons on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, bestowing blessings and divinity on the auspicious dragons. During the ceremony, chicken blood and cinnabar serve to consecrate the dragons. Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and body are marked in that order, representing lucid foresight, listening from afar, smelling the wide range of existence, and savoring the universal panacea. Finally, the dragons become decked with red ribbons and golden flowers to declare completion of the ceremony. Dragons without dotted eyes cannot go inside the temple or sent off by the people, underscoring the spiritual and ritual importance of the act.
