Qi Ye (七爺, also called General Xie (謝將軍)) and Ba Ye (八爺, also called General Fan (范將軍))

Qi Ye

Although also not main deities, Qi Ye and Ba Ye are a common and easily recognisable part of religious ceremonies in Taiwan. Believed to originate from FuJian province in China, the two were best friends from a young age. Very different in appearance, Qi Ye was very tall and light skinned, while Ba Ye was the complete opposite. One day, they were together when it began to rain. They were on a bridge at the time, and Qi Ye asked Ba Ye to wait there while he fetched an umbrella. While he was gone, however, the water rose, and the bridge began to flood. Despite this, Ba Ye did not want to break his promise to his friend to wait on the bridge, and drowned as a result.

Qi Ye and Ba Ye

Upon returning, Qi Ye discovered what had happened, and filled with guilt and sorrow, he hanged himself. After death, their spirits entered the underworld. The god of hell, Yen Lo Wang, was impressed by their loyalty to each other, and sent them to serve the many city gods, catching evil spirits and ghosts.

Elements of their story can often be seen in the representations of them in ceremonies, notably Qi Ye's umbrella and tongue sticking out because of how he died. They are most commonly presented in the form of large body suits, but can also be represented by people as part of a larger group of minor deities which acts as bodyguards for other gods in ceremonies called Ba Jia Jiang (for more see temple troupes).