Performing for the Afterlife: Ritual, Social Tensions, and Future of Taiwan's Electric Flower Cars

This thesis examines the phenomenon of the Electric Flower Cars (EFC), or dianzi huache 電子花車, in Taiwan: erotic performances on decorated vehicles held during funerals, deeply rooted in the island’s ceremonial traditions. The phenomenon, which emerged with the introduction of electronic and hydraulic technology in the late 1970s, represents a complex intersection between the sacred and the profane, tradition and modernity. The investigation analyzes their role in promoting concepts such as renao 熱鬧 (social fervor) in popular festivals, or again the importance of mianzi 面子 (social prestige) through lavish performances. EFC reflect the ability of Taiwan’s popular religion to adapt creatively and rapidly to new contexts. At the same time, the thesis explores Taiwanese public debate, which oscillates between the condemnation of EFC by educated élites, especially in the north of the island, who consider them vulgar, and their celebration as an expression of an authentic Taiwanese identity (taike 台客), a symbol of vitality against formality. This ambivalence intertwines with the political sphere, as EFC have been used as instruments by officials and parties (KMT and DPP) to connect with the local electorate. The work also devotes attention to state funeral reforms, initiated in the 1970s and intensified with the Grave Establishment Administration Act of 1983, aimed at promoting cremation and natural burial as opposed to traditional practices such as geomancy, often regarded as superstition. Despite the laws, the relationship between modernity and tradition remains dynamic, with communities finding alternative strategies to preserve deeply rooted beliefs and practices. Finally, the analysis interprets EFC as an example of cultural bricolage, in which traditional elements (for example zhentou 陣頭 and yige 藝閣) merge with innovations (striptease, Western pop music, Koreap pop groups) to represent the contemporary social realities of Taiwan. This fusion of the sacred and the profane generates new meanings, offering a valuable perspective for understanding the cultural, religious, and political dynamics that shape Taiwan’s contemporary identity.