Taiwan's Famous Urban Legend - The Ghost Ship

On February 15, 1995, the night sky over Taichung was stained blood red by a sudden, devastating fire. The Weierkang Western Restaurant suffered one of the most tragic fires in Taiwanese history, claiming 64 innocent lives. Amidst the charred ruins and the wails of the bereaved, a terrifying legend that plunged all of Taiwan into collective panic began to quietly spread among the populace. Shortly after the fire, numerous witnesses claimed to have seen an ancient sailing ship, emitting a faint greenish glow and floating amidst the clouds, in the sky above Taichung First Square, not far from the restaurant's remains. The ship drifted as if waiting for something. Subsequently, a prophecy began circulating, attributed to a乩童 (shaman) who claimed to possess 'yin-yang eyes.' He foretold that this was a ghost ship from the underworld, tasked with carrying 100 souls who died unjustly before it could sail back to the afterlife. This legend caused widespread fear among the citizens of Taichung at the time. At night, the once-bustling commercial district around First Square became deserted and quiet, with no one daring to linger nearby, lest they become passengers on that ship. Terrifyingly, in the following years, Taiwan experienced a series of major disasters with significant casualties, such as the Dayuan air disaster and the Shenhua KTV arson. Each time, before or after these events, people reported seeing the phantom of the ghost ship hovering nearby. That ghost ship, quietly waiting for souls in the night sky, became the most indelible apocalyptic shadow in the hearts of Taiwanese people in the 90s.