元培醫事科技大學舉辦中元普渡 外籍師生跨文化體驗中華民俗
元培醫事科技大學於農曆七月中元佳節舉辦普渡祭儀，今年特別邀請外籍師生共同參與，營造多元文化交流氛圍。此次共有來自日本的兩位教師與六位學生、印度的兩位學生，以及墨西哥的一位學生，共計十一位外籍師生首次參加中元普渡儀式。
儀式由王綮慷校長親自主持並恭讀祭文。外籍師生依循傳統習俗，從觀賞桌上供品陳設到手持清香祭拜，全程投入。短短十分鐘的儀式，不僅讓外籍師生深刻感受到中華文化的莊嚴底蘊，也使今年的普渡更添國際色彩。
值得一提的是，外籍師生也從自身文化角度分享了相似的祭祀經驗。日本老師屋木提到，日本夏季的「盂蘭盆會（お盆）」同樣有迎接祖先靈魂返鄉、掃墓與供奉食物的習俗，氛圍更偏向家庭團聚與社區慶典，與台灣中元普渡著重普渡孤魂的莊嚴儀式有所不同。來自印度的Dhivya Dharshika同學則介紹，印度教的「Pitru Paksha」祭祖節會透過食物和祈禱祭拜祖先亡靈，其精神與普渡相似，皆表達子孫對先人的敬意，但主要祭祀對象仍以家族祖靈為主，而非普渡無主孤魂。墨西哥學生Marbella Irais則分享到，墨西哥每年十一月的「亡靈節（Día de los Muertos）」會擺設祭壇，供奉亡者喜愛的食物與鮮花，並以繽紛歡樂的氛圍紀念亡者，與台灣普渡的肅穆氣氛形成鮮明對比。
元培醫事科技大學表示，透過中元普渡活動，不僅使外籍師生親身體驗台灣傳統民俗，更藉由跨文化對話，理解不同國度對亡靈的尊重與追思方式。這不僅深化了外籍師生對中華文化的認識，也彰顯校園多元共融的精神，讓傳統民俗在國際化的氛圍中展現新的教育意義。
Yuanpei University of Medical Technology Holds Ghost Festival Ceremony : Foreign Faculty and Students Experience Chinese Folk Traditions Across Cultures
Yuanpei University of Medical Technology held a traditional Ghost Festival ceremony during the seventh lunar month, inviting international faculty and students to join and create a vibrant atmosphere of multicultural exchange. This year, two faculty members and six students from Japan, two students from India, and one student from Mexico—a total of eleven participants—took part in the Ghost Festival ritual for the first time.
The ceremony was personally led by President Chi-Kang Wang, who recited the traditional prayer. Following local customs, the international participants observed the offerings displayed on the altar, lit incense, and joined in the ritual worship. Although the ceremony lasted only ten minutes, it offered the visiting students and teachers a profound sense of the solemn depth of Chinese culture, while adding an international dimension to this year’s event.
Notably, the participants also shared reflections from their own cultural traditions. Professor Ueki from Japan explained that the Japanese summer festival “Obon” also welcomes ancestral spirits home, includes grave visits, and features food offerings. However, the atmosphere is more focused on family reunions and community celebrations, in contrast to Taiwan’s Ghost Festival, which solemnly emphasizes the salvation of wandering spirits. From India, student Dhivya Dharshika introduced “Pitru Paksha,” a Hindu ancestor festival in which families honor the spirits of their forebears with food and prayers. The spirit is similar to the Ghost Festival in expressing respect for one’s ancestors, though its focus is limited to family spirits rather than the souls of the unclaimed dead. Mexican student Marbella Irais added that Mexico’s “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead), celebrated each November, involves colorful altars adorned with food and flowers beloved by the departed. Unlike Taiwan’s solemn Ghost Festival, Mexico commemorates the dead in a vibrant, joyful celebration, forming a striking cultural contrast.
Yuanpei University of Medical Technology emphasized that through the Ghost Festival activity, international faculty and students not only experienced Taiwan’s traditional folk customs firsthand but also engaged in intercultural dialogue, gaining insight into how different cultures honor and remember the spirits of the dead. This experience deepened their understanding of Chinese culture while highlighting the university’s spirit of diversity and inclusion, giving traditional folk practices new educational meaning in an international setting.
儀式由王綮慷校長親自主持並恭讀祭文。外籍師生依循傳統習俗，從觀賞桌上供品陳設到手持清香祭拜，全程投入。短短十分鐘的儀式，不僅讓外籍師生深刻感受到中華文化的莊嚴底蘊，也使今年的普渡更添國際色彩。
值得一提的是，外籍師生也從自身文化角度分享了相似的祭祀經驗。日本老師屋木提到，日本夏季的「盂蘭盆會（お盆）」同樣有迎接祖先靈魂返鄉、掃墓與供奉食物的習俗，氛圍更偏向家庭團聚與社區慶典，與台灣中元普渡著重普渡孤魂的莊嚴儀式有所不同。來自印度的Dhivya Dharshika同學則介紹，印度教的「Pitru Paksha」祭祖節會透過食物和祈禱祭拜祖先亡靈，其精神與普渡相似，皆表達子孫對先人的敬意，但主要祭祀對象仍以家族祖靈為主，而非普渡無主孤魂。墨西哥學生Marbella Irais則分享到，墨西哥每年十一月的「亡靈節（Día de los Muertos）」會擺設祭壇，供奉亡者喜愛的食物與鮮花，並以繽紛歡樂的氛圍紀念亡者，與台灣普渡的肅穆氣氛形成鮮明對比。
元培醫事科技大學表示，透過中元普渡活動，不僅使外籍師生親身體驗台灣傳統民俗，更藉由跨文化對話，理解不同國度對亡靈的尊重與追思方式。這不僅深化了外籍師生對中華文化的認識，也彰顯校園多元共融的精神，讓傳統民俗在國際化的氛圍中展現新的教育意義。
Yuanpei University of Medical Technology Holds Ghost Festival Ceremony : Foreign Faculty and Students Experience Chinese Folk Traditions Across Cultures
Yuanpei University of Medical Technology held a traditional Ghost Festival ceremony during the seventh lunar month, inviting international faculty and students to join and create a vibrant atmosphere of multicultural exchange. This year, two faculty members and six students from Japan, two students from India, and one student from Mexico—a total of eleven participants—took part in the Ghost Festival ritual for the first time.
The ceremony was personally led by President Chi-Kang Wang, who recited the traditional prayer. Following local customs, the international participants observed the offerings displayed on the altar, lit incense, and joined in the ritual worship. Although the ceremony lasted only ten minutes, it offered the visiting students and teachers a profound sense of the solemn depth of Chinese culture, while adding an international dimension to this year’s event.
Notably, the participants also shared reflections from their own cultural traditions. Professor Ueki from Japan explained that the Japanese summer festival “Obon” also welcomes ancestral spirits home, includes grave visits, and features food offerings. However, the atmosphere is more focused on family reunions and community celebrations, in contrast to Taiwan’s Ghost Festival, which solemnly emphasizes the salvation of wandering spirits. From India, student Dhivya Dharshika introduced “Pitru Paksha,” a Hindu ancestor festival in which families honor the spirits of their forebears with food and prayers. The spirit is similar to the Ghost Festival in expressing respect for one’s ancestors, though its focus is limited to family spirits rather than the souls of the unclaimed dead. Mexican student Marbella Irais added that Mexico’s “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead), celebrated each November, involves colorful altars adorned with food and flowers beloved by the departed. Unlike Taiwan’s solemn Ghost Festival, Mexico commemorates the dead in a vibrant, joyful celebration, forming a striking cultural contrast.
Yuanpei University of Medical Technology emphasized that through the Ghost Festival activity, international faculty and students not only experienced Taiwan’s traditional folk customs firsthand but also engaged in intercultural dialogue, gaining insight into how different cultures honor and remember the spirits of the dead. This experience deepened their understanding of Chinese culture while highlighting the university’s spirit of diversity and inclusion, giving traditional folk practices new educational meaning in an international setting.
