Sun, Spirits & Dragon Robes
A Forgotten Heavenly Festival Revived

Said to be the day the Jade Emperor ascended to the throne and the heavenly gates open wide, this lesser-known traditional festival is making a quiet comeback at Kaiji Jade Emperor Temple (開基玉皇宮) — one of Tainan’s oldest temples, affectionately nicknamed “Tainan’s original palace of heaven.”

Visitors crowd the scene, eager to snap photos with the golden robe — a rare chance to get close to the garments of a deity. Many believe even a glance can bring a touch of divine blessing.

Taoist master Wu Cheng-Hsien, sixth-generation head of the Yanling Taoist Sect in Tainan, says Tian Kuang Day was once a major celebration across Chinese territories. In imperial times, even emperors would sun their robes on this day to absorb heavenly energy. Today, modern believers adapt the ritual — sunbathing briefly themselves (just a few minutes, due to Taiwan’s fierce summer heat), or airing out their blankets to boost vitality and ward off illness.

Tian Kuang Day holds deep personal meaning for Kaiji Jade Emperor Temple. During WWII, the temple was bombed by Allied forces, and its gods temporarily found shelter in the neighboring Xingji Temple. When peace returned, the temple chose Tian Kuang Day as the moment to ceremoniously bring the Jade Emperor home — red carpets, prayers, and all.

“We used to celebrate Tian Kuang Day with days of grand opera and festivities, almost like the Jade Emperor’s birthday,” recalls temple secretary Chen Rong-Hui. “Though the tradition has faded in recent years, more people are returning to worship on this day — especially those wanting to ‘top up their luck’ or make urgent wishes while heaven’s gates are open.”

So if you’re in Tainan in late summer, skip the usual temples for once and head to the quieter, smoke-swirled courtyards of Kaiji Jade Emperor Temple. Who knows — your prayers might just rise straight to the ears of heaven.