Ghost marriage and its significance and true story in Taiwan culture

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Ghost Marriage and Its Significance in Taiwanese Culture

In Taiwan’s folk traditions, ghost marriage (冥婚) is a fascinating and eerie practice with deep cultural roots. Although Lunar New Year is a festive time, it carries certain taboos, such as the warning: "Don't pick up red packets (紅包) from the roadside."

These red envelopes may appear auspicious but can serve as a bridge between the living and the dead, marking a chilling connection to ghost marriage. Ghost marriages are arranged to provide a home and spouse for deceased individuals who passed away unmarried, ensuring they are not left alone in the spiritual world. This tradition is tied to the belief in yin-yang harmony, where maintaining peace between the living (陽界) and the underworld (陰界) is essential to prevent hauntings.

Marrying a deceased soul provides a symbolic continuation of life, helping families achieve balance and avoiding disturbances from restless spirits.

A Childhood Paranormal Experience

One strange incident happened to my brother when we were young, playing hide-and-seek with the neighbor's kids in our neighborhood.

While playing, my brother stumbled across a red envelope lying on the ground. We were all stunned, unable to understand how it ended up there. Out of curiosity, we opened the envelope, only to find a few bills and some hair inside. My brother discarded the hair without hesitation and happily talked about spending the unexpected "windfall."

Without thinking much, we decided to go on a grocery shopping spree. However, that same night, my brother developed a high fever that wouldn’t subside. Despite receiving medicine and injections at the emergency room, his fever kept returning.

The Temple and Ji Gong’s Intervention

As the fever worsened, my brother became paralyzed, unable to move freely, tossing and turning in bed for several days. Desperate, my parents decided to visit a local temple for help.

We lit incense, worshiped, and asked the gods for guidance. The temple priest consulted with the gods, and to our surprise, Ji Gong (濟公), a revered figure in Taiwanese folk religion, revealed the cause of the problem.

Ji Gong asked cheerfully, "Did your child pick up a red envelope?"

At that moment, panic washed over me as I confessed the truth. I told my parents that we had used the money to buy snacks and threw away the hair inside the envelope. Worse, my brother had hidden the red envelope in his pants, keeping it tucked behind his back, unknowingly offending the spirit

A Miraculous Solution

Although my parents were exasperated, there was no other option but to follow Ji Gong’s instructions. The temple performed a purification ritual (法事) to appease the spirit.

Then, something miraculous happened – my brother’s fever disappeared instantly, and he was able to move freely again!

Looking back, we couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. A red envelope meant for ghost marriage had almost turned our entire family into “quasi-in-laws” with a restless spirit!

This story serves as a reminder to always be cautious during festive periods. Red envelopes lying on the roadside might not bring fortune, but instead, an unexpected connection to the spirit world.