A group of SISU international students joined the parade of Sanlintang Chenghuangshen Temple in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai.
A group of SISU international students joined the parade of Sanlintang Chenghuangshen Temple in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai.
A group of SISU international students joined the parade of Sanlintang Chenghuangshen Temple in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai.
A group of SISU international students joined the parade of Sanlintang Chenghuangshen Temple in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai.A group of international students at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) joined the parade of Sanlintang Chenghuangshen Temple in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai in mid-November. All of them are scholarship holders of the Confucius Institute in SISU.
The Chenghuangshen, literally God of the Moat and the Walls, but usually translated as City God or Town God, is a tutelary deity or deities in Chinese folk religion who protects the people and the affairs of the particular village, town or city of great dimension, and the corresponding afterlife location. Students explored this traditional but mysterious folk activity in the Han-style clothes, making them very excited about getting involved in the parade. The parade provided these international students with a glimpse of Chinese traditional folk custom and beliefs—an essential part of Chinese culture.
According to local tradition, there are three parades each year, and the parade students participated in is the last one this year. It is said that the divinity of Chenghuangshen Temple would settle souls of the newly dead and drive away the evil to keep peace of the world. People use parades to express their appreciation and good wishes.
Apart from the parade with ancient-style dress, there were many other activities such as the Chenghuangshen temple fair, exhibitions of Chinese folk arts, paintings and photographic works. Among these splendid displays, the storytelling on Chinese legends got much attention.
Participation in the flesh，impressed these international students. Students who participated in the parade spoke highly of this involvement and they were looking forward to the next journey.
