「放水燈」是東亞常見的風俗，在佛教與漢文化的融合之下，更成為「盂蘭盆會」（或稱「中元普度」）的重要行事。清代嘉慶之後海禁漸開，臺灣漢人聚落迅速發展，農曆七月「放水燈」的風俗也隨之興盛，逐漸成為文化生根與發展的重要項目。尤其歷經移民、墾拓時期，難免遭遇各種環境上的威脅與挑戰，再加上新殖區域難以避免的土地爭奪，自有眾多凶死無祀之人，透過「水燈」引領孤魂參與普度，更成為安定生者、免除恐懼的重要活動。且如此風俗即使在日本統治時期亦未衰減，甚至推向其所未見的盛況。此當與日本亦是東亞「盂蘭盆」祭典盛行的區域，甚至許多地區亦有「燈籠流?」等習俗，在基於「同俗」的條件之下，實際上並未被禁止（僅有鋪張之取締），這可由《臺灣日日新報》等報刊有許多關於「放水燈」或「燈籠流?」的報導得到證明。甚至隨著社會文化的變遷，有許多不同的面貌產生，如「兒童水燈會」的舉辦，可見隨著時代觀念的改變，許多家長已准許兒童參與公開的民俗活動，包括這種與普度孤魂有關、多有忌諱的活動。因此，本文將透過各種報刊、書冊文獻關於「放水燈」與「燈籠流?」風俗的報導或記錄探討相關活動面貌、內涵意義、風俗傳說與社會影響力。而探討「放水燈」文化在此特殊時空的發展面貌，也將可以作為探討東亞「盂蘭盆」祭典風俗議題的重要事例。 ”Water lamp” is a common custom in East Asia. With the fusion of Buddhism and Han culture, it has become an important act of the ”Ullambana Festival” (also known as ”Chungyuan Festival”). With the rapid development of Han Chinese settlements in Taiwan, the custom of ”water lanterns” has also flourished. Especially in the period of immigration and reclamation, it is inevitable to encounter various environmental threats and challenges, coupled with the inevitable land contention in the newly colonized area, and there are many murderous people without their own sacrifices. Therefore, through the ”water lamp” to lead the lone soul to participate in Purdue, it has become an important activity to stabilize the living and relieve fear. Because Japan is also an area where the ”Ullambana Festival” in East Asia is popular, and even many areas have ”lamp flow” festivals, this custom has not decayed even during the period of Japanese rule in Taiwan, and has even pushed to a grand event never seen before. This can be proved by the reports of newspapers and magazines at that time. Even with the changes of society and culture, many different activities during this period, such as the ”Children's Water lamp Festival”, are amazing projects. Therefore, this article will explore through various newspapers, books and literature about the report or record of the ”water lamp” custom. Expecting to understand the situation and significance of this custom in this special time and space will also serve as an important example of the discussion of the custom of the ”Ullambana Festival” in East Asia.
