Chapter 9 - “Techno Dancing Gods”: Comicized Deity Images as Expressions of Taiwanese Cultural Identity

Summary

Introduction

Images of gods are typically treated with solemnity. Recently, however, devotees in Taiwan have taken to producing playful images of deities to increase the friendliness of the visual environment and to lessen the social distance between gods and their worshippers. This chapter explores the transformation of deity images into comicized forms (i.e., with the exaggerated neoteny associated with cartoon or manga styles) and its meaning for Taiwan as a “glocalizing” society. Our focus is the contemporary phenomenon known as Dianyin Santaizi.

Santaizi is the name of a Chinese god whom Taiwanese temple fairs often portray in the form of giant, human-occupied puppets. Dianyin means “electronic music,” i.e., techno dance music. The combined name therefore refers to the innovation of making the god-puppets dance to pop songs, or techno remixes thereof.

Dianyin Santaizi performances have recently grown in popularity as part of the Taike (“Taiwan hick”) trend. Outside of temple fairs, they may also be encountered through television programs, video-sharing websites, promotional campaigns or company parties. Unlike traditional santaizi puppets, the Dianyin Santaizi are not formally invested with the deity's power (although some people respect them as if they were) and are only used in non-religious public-relations activities.

Dianyin Santaizi were featured at the opening ceremony of the 2009 world Games in Kaohsiung, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 21st Summer Deaflympics in Taipei that same year. Both performances recalled, in caricature, the street processions associated with local temple fairs. This chapter will analyze the differences between their respective presentations of Taiwanese culture.