Taipei, Aug. 9 (CNA) The Songjiang Battle Array has been a traditional component of Taiwan's religious ceremonies for over two centuries, and will have a new and improved format in the 2006 Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival.
A pair of Songjiang Battle Array groups are among over 20 performing groups from Asian countries at the fifth annual festival, which takes place in Ilan from Aug. 12 - Sep. 3.
The Songjiang Battle Array of National Taitung University and the Creative Songjiang Battle Array of National University of Tainan will try to change society's negative impression of the ritual procession troupe, which has become a major cultural experience in Taiwan.
Over 200 years ago, Taiwanese developed the Songjiang Battle Array to fight against raiding bandits. Today, it is still a major component of religious ceremonies at many temple festivals and has evolved into a type of folk performance combining martial arts, religious dance, folk music and local literature.
Many are now viewing the event in a different light, as its performers used to be dominated by gangsters before the Tourism Bureau and locals worked together to get it back on track.
The Tourism Bureau designated the Songjiang Battle Array as one of the county's 12 major activities, while a couple of Songjiang Battle Array competitions have been held in various townships.
The results have been optimistic. More than a dozen universities have established Songjiang Battle Array groups and bring modern and creative elements to the traditional activity.
At the Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival, the group from Taitung University will showcase the 36 heavenly chieftains of Mount Liang -- characters from the Chinese epic novel the Water Margin, all carrying different weapons and dressed distinctively.
The group from National University of Tainan, the two-time winner of the Neimen Creative Songjiang Battle Array competition, will combine the elements of Songjiang Battle Array, Competitive Dragon Dance, and Lion Dance with Battle Drums, with interaction between the three elements during the show.
As one of the cultural events that attracts the most foreign attention, the Songjiang Battle Array will try to march into another century with the transformation.