The traditional Hengchun pole-climbing competition, which has taken place annually during Ghost Festival in Taiwan’s southernmost township for over a century, was held on the evening of Aug. 24 this year, with 32 domestic and foreign teams competing for the cash prize of NT$300,000 (US$9,325).
The event featured the winners of the last three years squaring off against one another in a lively battle that ended with the defending champion Nanwan Sea Cows as the victors. Lending the competition an international flavor were members of some teams from Nepal, Peru, Swaziland and Thailand.
In the competition, the teams of eight members climb up a 40-meter-high pole coated with beef fat to try to be the first to grab the flag at the top of the “Kupeng,” a large conical structure made of numerous poles bound together.
As the poles were so slippery, the team members worked together to form human pyramids in a strategy to first scrape the grease off the poles before attempting the perilous barehanded climb to the top. This year, more than 250 kilograms of beef fat were used to coat the poles.
Five-time champion Chen Jin-xing explained that the secrets to success are good physical strength, proper rope-tying technique, and perhaps most importantly, praying to the spirits before the start of the competition, as after all it is a Ghost Festival event. He added that smearing beef fat on one’s face when reaching the top is a tradition to keep climbers safe by preventing the ghosts from recognizing them.
The origins of the pole-climbing custom in Taiwan can be traced back to Hengchun Township, where it first appeared 132 years ago. Up until that time, there was a tradition of allowing the poor residents to take food offerings that had been laid out for the spirits by rich people. However, many people were injured each year when scuffling broke out in the rush to grab the offerings. Someone therefore came up with the idea of erecting a pole tower with the offerings going to whoever could climb to the top the fastest.
As the local economy improved, the competition gradually developed into a celebratory folk tradition, which nowadays is one of the most important tourist events on Hengchun’s calendar.
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