Taipei: The National Taiwan Museum of Comics (NTMC) in Taichung is set to inaugurate the exhibition "Taiwanese Lives of Ghosts in Comics" on Thursday. This event aims to highlight Taiwan's folk culture through nine contemporary Taiwanese comics during the culturally significant period of Ghost Month.
According to Focus Taiwan, during a promotional event held on Wednesday, Chen Ching-kuan, director of the NTMC Preparatory Office, emphasized that Ghost Month, the seventh month of the lunar calendar, embodies the complex emotions of awe and fear towards ghosts while also reflecting on life, emotions, and memories. She noted that this period has historically served as a rich source of inspiration for literary and comic creations.
The exhibition creatively integrates familiar elements from Taiwanese night markets, including iconic foods like fish ball soup and steak, along with traditional games such as ring toss, providing visitors with an immersive cultural experience. Curator Jean Chen explained that the nine featured comics incorporate distinct Taiwanese folk elements such as the Zhongyuan Pudu ritual, ghost marriages, and the Earth Deity (Tudigong). However, the underlying narratives focus on human experiences and connections.
The Zhongyuan Pudu is a customary Ghost Festival ritual dedicated to honoring spirits believed to be released from the underworld during Ghost Month. This year's Ghost Festival is scheduled for August 27, while Ghost Month spans from August 13 to September 10. The exhibition will be open to the public from August 27 through March 1, 2027.