《迎城隍》迎輦成年禮30學子轉大人

In the 2011 Greeting City God activity in Kinmen, the "Coming-of-Age" was held by Jincheng Township Administration yesterday. Approximately 30 teenagers from high schools/vocational high schools passed the trials of carrying City Gods' sedan chair, and received the Certificates from Township Mayor Shih, Chao-Min and Woodao City God Temple Chief Commissioner Chou, Wu-Pin, becoming "real adults." This symbolized that they had passed the trials and became real men from boys.
2011金門迎城隍，金城鎮公所昨日舉辦迎輦成年禮活動，近30名高中職青少年通過迎輦的考驗，從鎮長石兆 、浯 島城隍廟主委周浯斌等人手中接過迎輦證書「轉大人」，象徵通過考驗，由小男孩轉變為正港男子漢。

This "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" was held in front of Beizhen Temple in Jincheng Township yesterday afternoon. Township Mayor Shih, Chao-Min, Woodao City God Temple Chief Commissioner Chou, Wu-Pin, Beimen Village Chief Hsu, Ji-Teng, Township Representative Shiu, Ji-Tsai and local elders all came to the scene. They and the audience all cheered on (1) and gave blessings to the teenagers who participated in this ceremony.
這項迎輦成年禮活動昨日下午在金城鎮北鎮廟前舉行，鎮長石兆 、浯島城隍廟主委周浯斌、北門里長許績燈、鎮民代表許績才及地方長老到場，並與圍觀民眾一起為參加成年禮的青少年加油、祝福。

In order to celebrate the 331st anniversary of City God's Relocation, this "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" was guided by the Transportation and Tourism Bureau of Kinmen County Government, hosted by Jincheng Township Administration, co-undertaken by Jincheng Township Beizhen Temple Management Committee, and undertaken by Kinmen County Folk Arts Promotion Association. It symbolized the coming-of-age of teenagers, through passing on the palankeen (2) carrying skills to teenagers.
為慶祝城隍遷治331周年，這項由金門縣政府交通旅遊局指導，金城鎮公所主辦，金城鎮北鎮廟管理委員會協助辦理，金門縣民俗技藝推廣協會承辦的「迎輦成年禮」，藉由傳授迎輦技藝給青少年，象徵轉大人。

The carrying of sedan (3) chairs in Kinmen is one of the precious cultural assets in Min-Nan folk faith, which has been preserved luckily due to the military-controlled environment of Kinmen in early days and whose tradition has been maintained, said Township Mayor Shih, Chao-Min. According to the legend, people can eliminate (4) disasters and pray for blessings by carrying and swinging the God's Palankeen on their shoulders. Through the Palankeen Carrying Competition, each temple can be invited to swing and contest against each other, to warm the theme activity of Greeting City God on the 12th day of the lunar 4th month.
鎮長石兆 指出，金門神輦是閩南民俗信仰的珍貴文化資產，金門因為早期的軍管環境，幸運的留存，並維持傳統。根據傳說，肩搖神轎輦，能夠消災祈福，透過舉辦尬輦比賽，邀請各宮廟互相較勁搖擺，炒熱四月十二迎城隍主題活動。

Last year, the Beimen God's Palankeen Team participated in the "Great Contest for National Parade Formation" and won the second place. According to Village Chief Hsu, Ji-Teng, Greeting the Palankeen is namely (5) carrying the God's sedan chair. Usually, the God's Palankeen is carried by four persons, and each of them has his own task-"First Head (頭兼) should pay attention to the carrying pole and be carful about the direction when the formation moves; "Second Helm (6) (二舵)" and "Third Helm (三舵)" should put emphasis on the swing; "Rear Helm (後舵)" should put emphasis on stabilizing the direction. He said that the Palankeen Carrying is to show respect for the God and pray for blessings and safety. Now, this has been one of the features of Kinmen's temple fairs.
北門神輦隊去年參加「大車拚之全國藝陣強強盃」勇奪第二名，里長許績燈指出，迎輦即是抬神轎，一般抬神輦有四人，四人各司其職，「頭兼」要顧扁擔、注意走方位，「二舵」、「三舵」則著重在搖擺；「後舵」則著重在穩定方位。他說，迎輦表達對神明的尊崇，及祈求護佑平安，現在已經是金門廟會特色之一。

Approximately 30 teenagers such as Shen, Tin-Yu et al, who are at their age of 16 or older, participated in this "Coming-of-Age Ceremony." Under the guidance provided by Palankeen Art Masters, they showed the skills of Palankeen Carrying and passed the trials. They received the certificates of "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" conferred by Township Mayor Shih, Chao-Min and Woodao City God Temple Chief Commissioner Chou Wu-Pin.
參加迎輦成年禮的沈庭宇等近30名年滿16歲青少年，在神輦藝師調教下，展現迎輦的技藝，通過考驗，接受鎮長石兆 、浯島城隍廟主委周浯斌頒發「成年禮」證書。

Shih, Chao-Min also had a trial personally, to experience Palankeen Carrying along with the traditional art masters. Shih, Chao-Min said that the manual Palankeen Carrying is one of the features of Kinmen's temple fairs. Through the "Coming-of-Age Ceremony", little boys can prove that they have become real men. They can make many more friends and be protected by City God. He hoped that the Palankeen Carrying activity can be promoted to every township and community while Kinmen's exclusive culture of temple fair can be preserved and passed down.
石兆 也下場小試身手，和傳統藝師們體驗迎輦，石兆 表示，人力肩扛迎輦為金門廟會特色之一，透過迎輦成年禮，證明小男孩轉變為正港男子漢，結交更多的朋友，得到城隍爺的庇祐，讓迎輦活動能推廣到各鄉鎮、社區，保留與傳承金門特有的廟會文化。

Next time, this "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" would be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 21. The teenagers from Kinmen University and high schools/vocational high schools, who are 18~20 years-old, would be invited. They would learn the Palankeen Carrying skills on the scene. After they passed the trials, they would be awarded the Commemorative Certificates of Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and bestowed with exquisite (7) souvenirs.
這項迎輦成年禮活動，下梯次將於五月廿一日下午二時三十分至四時三十分舉辦，邀請金門大學、高中職十八至二十歲在學男生，現場將傳授迎輦技藝，通過考驗，發給成年禮紀念證書，並致贈精美紀念品。

【解說】
●1. cheer on-歡呼。
●2. palankeen-(n)轎；肩輿。
●3. sedan-(n)轎子。
●4. eliminate-(vt)消滅、消除；排除。
●5. namely-(adv)即；也就是～。
●6. helm-(n)舵；舵柄；舵輪。
●7. exquisite-(adj)精緻的；精巧的。

原文轉譯自《金門日報》2011年5月8日報導