An elaborately decorated model ship was set aflame at the Wangchuan ceremony in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province on January 9, 2025. The Wangchuan ceremony, also known as Ong Chun, is an ancient folk ritual celebrated in the coastal areas of Fujian and in Chinese communities in Melaka, Malaysia.
The ceremony holds deep cultural significance, embodying people’s hopes for peace, warding off disasters, and praying for good fortune at sea. During the ritual, a meticulously crafted model ship, referred to as Wangchuan—meaning “King’s ship”—is burned on the beach. The ship is loaded with offerings such as food, fruits, and paper-made artifacts.
Locals believe that as the ship burns and its ashes drift away, misfortunes vanish with the flames and smoke. This ancient custom has been passed down through generations, serving as a vivid cultural bond among Chinese communities living in coastal regions.
In recognition of its cultural importance, the Wangchuan ceremony was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China in 2011 and was inscribed onto UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2020.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
