Detailed Introduction
Faces painted in five colors, bodies in operatic costume, chains and instruments of torture in hand, the Eight Generals move slowly forward with an indescribably solemn tread — and these seemingly fearsome figures are in fact officials of the underworld's court of judgment, clearing the way for the gods, driving off evil, and guarding the deity's passage. Zhentou (literally "battle formations") are the most eye-catching folk performances in Taiwan's temple processions, fusing martial arts, theater, dance, and religious ritual. On a deity's birthday, a territorial patrol, or a major festival, troupes of every kind turn out in full force, clearing the way for the gods and guarding their passage with thunderous gongs and drums and consummate skill — the most visually striking element of Taiwan's religious culture.
Origins and Functions
The history of zhentou can be traced back to the ancient Chinese "Nuo theater" — performances that drove off evil by impersonating gods and demons. Brought to Taiwan, they merged with local belief to develop into a diverse and distinctive zhentou culture. In temple processions, zhentou serve to clear and purify the road ahead of the gods, drive off evil along the way, entertain both gods and people, and display local strength and community identity. Zhentou are also an important stage for temples to "compete" — whichever temple's troupe is the most elite and best-performing shows that temple's congregation to be the most devout and united.
Major Types of Zhentou
● Eight Generals (Bajiajiang) / Ten Generals (Shijiajiang): the most representative of Taiwanese zhentou. Performers paint their faces in five-colored patterns, wear operatic costume, and carry various ritual implements (chains, torture devices, fans, fire tallies), processing with a solemn, measured step. The Eight Generals represent the officials of the underworld's court of judgment — the Civil and Military Messengers, Generals Gan and Liu, General Fan (the Seventh Lord) and General Xie (the Eighth Lord), and the Great Gods of Spring and Autumn. The face painting is extremely exacting, each role's colors and patterns following fixed rules — the painting itself is an art form. Tainan is the birthplace of the Eight Generals, and each temple's troupe has its own distinctive style.
● Guan Jiang Shou (Chief of the Officials): originating at Dizang Temple in Xinzhuang, as famous as the Eight Generals but wholly different in style. A performance usually features three people — the Two Generals of Increase and Decrease (variants of Ox-Head and Horse-Face) led by a commanding chief. The movements are fierce and forceful, the footwork rapid and full of martial flair; with fearsome faces and tridents or ghost-head blades in hand, they cut an imposing presence.
● Song Jiang Battle Array: drawn from the tale of the 108 heroes of Water Margin, the most popular martial-arts zhentou in southern Taiwan. Participants wield an array of weapons (swords, spears, staffs, shields, rakes), forming battle formations and drilling attack and defense through martial routines. The Song Jiang Array unites martial training, community defense, and religious escort, with rigorous training and members drawn mostly from local youth. The Song Jiang Array performance at the Xigang Pilgrimage in Tainan has been listed as a National Important Folk Custom.
● Lion and Dragon Dances: the most festive zhentou in temple processions. Taiwan's lion dance blends the Hokkien lion (smaller and more nimble) with the Cantonese lion (more ornate and powerful). A dragon array usually takes over ten people working in concert, sending the long dragon tumbling and weaving through the air to symbolize the arrival of auspicious blessing.
● Electronic-Music Third Prince (Dianyin San Taizi): a uniquely Taiwanese modern zhentou that pairs the traditional Third Prince (Nezha) deity puppet with electronic dance music and neon lights. Performers don oversized deity headpieces adorned with LED lights and dance energetically to the electronic beat. Though this innovation has stirred debate between tradition and modernity, it has successfully drawn in the younger generation and become a dazzling calling card in Taiwan's cultural diplomacy, representing Taiwan at many international occasions.
● Art Pavilion Floats (Yige): exquisite "mobile stages," with elaborate scenery built on parade floats and live performers (often children) portraying historical or mythological characters, tossing candy to interact with spectators along the route. Tainan's art-pavilion tradition is the most developed, while the art-pavilion parade of Beigang Chaotian Temple is famous throughout Taiwan.
Training and Taboos
Joining a zhentou requires a rigorous training period. During practice, Eight Generals members must "close the hall" — no alcohol, no entering unclean places (such as hospitals or homes in mourning), and no eating beef (because of the divine generals' connection to the Ox Lord); once their faces are painted, they must not speak casually or eat before removing their makeup. The purpose of these taboos is to unite the performers spiritually with the divine generals they portray and to avoid profaning the deities.
Succession and Challenges
The greatest challenge facing zhentou culture is public perception. In the past, some zhentou groups became entangled with gang forces, leaving the public with a prejudice against them. In recent years many temples and cultural organizations have worked hard to overturn this image, bringing zhentou into schools (through university clubs and high school and vocational programs) and cultivating properly trained successors. The documentary film "Din Tao: Leader of the Parade" (2012) brought the issue to the big screen, helping more people see the sweat, discipline, and cultural depth behind the zhentou tradition.