By TTNews Reporter Liao, You-Sheng
TAITUNG, TAIWAN (TTNews) – The well-known Fearless Tiger Gang and its 12 Heavenly Lords Troupe certainly has always become the focus of attention.
Fearless Tiger Gang is the one and only 12 Heavenly Lords Troupe in Taitung. The organizational structure is relatively tight and solid, which is typically formed by 13 people at a time. Among that, the one holding a black prayer flag is a symbol of Jinzha the eldest prince, who is in charge of leading a bunch of heavenly lords. When he is vigorously waving his black prayer flag, that means there is a contamination need to be wiped out, so that the good fortune can come to your doorstep.
12 Heavenly Lords are distinguished from the heavenly officials and earthly officials; six are on the dragon side (right) and another six are on the tiger side (left). They generally will wear helmets, armours, Kungfu shoes and exaggeratedly colourful make-up, and hold a paper fan and their weapon. Traditionally, they will perform a series of martial and folk art dance steps. Each dance step has different meanings.
Usually their steps and movements are fairly steady, solid and powerful. They have been rigorously disciplined, and people are often fascinated by their solemn manners. In fact, most people probably don’t know that most of the troupe members are considerably young, mostly around 21 and 22. All of them are natives, but some of them are usually away studying outside the city. They traditionally will return home to take part in this grand folk festival, hoping to promote the continuation of traditional folk culture.
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Fearless Tiger Gang: 威虎堂
12 Heavenly Lords Troupe: 十二星君陣頭
【民俗】延續傳統民俗文化 威虎堂十二星君
廖祐笙/台東縣
頗具知名度的台東威虎堂十二星君陣頭，聲勢浩大，威風凜凜，每次出軍時，總是成為目光焦點。
威虎堂是台東唯一的十二星君陣頭，組織結構嚴密，為十三人成陣，其中手持黑令旗的是象徵金吒大太子，負責下達陣法、帶領星君，當大力揮擺黑令旗時，即有掃除汙穢、去霉改運。
十二星君有天上星與地下星之區分，龍邊（右）與虎邊（左）個六位星君，裝扮大致是頭戴盔帽、身穿戰甲、腳著功夫鞋、外手執扇、內手拿法器，再配上一個張五顏六色的大花臉，表演的陣式包含擺陣、開四門、八卦陣以及七星陣，每個陣式各有不同的意涵。
十二星君的步伐穩健、動作紮實有力，紀律嚴謹，神威莊嚴，常讓民眾看得入神，也對於十二星君的陣頭表演紛紛表示贊同，認為獨特性高、專業性、可看性十足。
其實扮演十二星君的成員都很年輕，大多是21、22歲的大學生，全都是在地台東小孩，這些台東小孩平常都在外地念書，因為元宵慶典而回鄉參與民俗盛事，大家有志一同，希望藉由民俗才藝陣頭讓傳統文化延續下去。（攝影／洪榕、文／邵鈺敏）
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