Dance of the generals - Beitou, Taiwan - feb. 2010

dance of some of the taoists generals at 九天宫, 北投; temple of the Nine Heavens. Among these characters are QiYe (七爺, le one with the tongue out) and BaYe (八爺, the little one). Story says, the two generals were buddy long time ago, and Baye was waiting for his pal at a bridge. Unfortunately, this was flood season. Since he's small, it didn't take long to get him drowned, and when his mate arrived, it was too late, and QiYe hanged himself ( the tongue out comes from it). They are considered as Guardians/gods, and are said to help people going to the underworld, some kind of our greek Charon. The people around throw "ghost money". It's money you have to burn in order to get it through to the world of ghosts. With a pragmactical sense of the real world, it was decided, that, since it is burnt, ghost would see if it is real or fake money, so in the end people keep their savings and just give papres shaped like ancient money to their dead relatives.