1. 請水（Fetching Sacred Water）
請水是王船祭的重要開端儀式之一，信徒會前往海邊或河口取回「聖水」，象徵迎接神明降臨與淨化空間。以東港王船祭來說，因地方與海洋文化密切相關，通常會到海邊舉行請水儀式，透過誦經、焚香與法事，將海水轉化為具有神聖意義的淨水，用於後續祭典活動。這不只是取水，更代表請王爺正式進入祭典。
Fetching Sacred Water is one of the opening rituals of the King Boat Festival. Worshippers go to the seaside or a river estuary to collect “holy water,” symbolizing the arrival of the gods and the purification of the ritual space. In the Donggang King Boat Festival, because the local culture is closely connected to the ocean, this ceremony is usually held by the sea. Through chanting, incense burning, and religious rituals, ordinary seawater is transformed into sacred water used in later ceremonies. This ritual not only involves collecting water but also represents officially inviting the Wang Lords to begin the festival.
2. 開光（Consecration / Blessing Ceremony）
開光是指透過宗教儀式，賦予神像、王船或祭祀用品靈性與神聖性。常見於新雕刻完成的神像或新建好的王船上，由法師或道長進行點眼、誦經、祭拜等程序。民間相信，經過開光後，原本只是物品的神像或王船才真正具有神力與靈驗性，能作為神明的依附載體。
Consecration refers to a religious ceremony that gives spiritual power and sacred meaning to statues, king boats, or ritual objects. It is commonly performed on newly carved deity statues or newly built king boats. Taoist priests or religious masters conduct rituals such as painting the eyes of the statue, chanting scriptures, and offering sacrifices. In folk belief, after consecration, the object is no longer just a physical item but becomes spiritually empowered and able to serve as a vessel for the deity.
3. 過火（Fire Crossing Ritual）
過火是臺灣廟會常見的淨身與祈福儀式，通常會在地上鋪設燃燒過的木炭或火堆，讓神轎、乩童或信徒從上方通過。其象徵意義是透過火焰驅邪避煞、淨化身心，也有祈求平安與去除厄運的功能。部分信徒相信，經過過火後可消災解厄，像是替自己「重新開機」一樣，把壞運燒掉。
The Fire Crossing Ritual is a common purification and blessing ceremony in Taiwanese temple festivals. Burning charcoal or fire pits are prepared on the ground, and deity palanquins, spirit mediums, or worshippers pass over them. Fire symbolizes purification, protection from evil spirits, and the removal of bad luck. Many believers think that after crossing fire, disasters and negative energy are burned away, giving participants a fresh spiritual beginning.
4. 轎班（Palanquin Team / Sedan Chair Bearers）
轎班是負責抬神轎的人員團隊，在遶境活動中扮演非常重要的角色。他們不只是搬運神轎，更需要配合儀式節奏、神轎 movement（如搖擺、衝刺、旋轉）以及路線安排。有些地方相信神明會透過神轎展現旨意，因此轎班需要高度默契與體力。轎班成員通常接受訓練，也需遵守禁忌，例如飲食、作息與行為規範。
A Palanquin Team is the group responsible for carrying the deity sedan chair during temple parades. They play an essential role in religious processions, as they do more than simply transport the palanquin. Team members must coordinate movements such as shaking, running, spinning, or sudden stops according to ritual needs and the perceived will of the deity. In some traditions, people believe the gods communicate through the movement of the palanquin, so the team requires strong teamwork, physical strength, and discipline. Members often follow special rules regarding diet, behavior, and daily habits before participating.
5. 大千歲（Great Wang Lord）
大千歲是王爺信仰中的重要神祇稱呼之一。「千歲」原本是古代對尊貴人物的敬稱，後來延伸為王爺神明稱號。王船祭中的大千歲通常指本次代天巡狩的主要王爺，也就是祭典中最高位階、最核心的神明。例如迎王時，地方信徒會恭迎大千歲降臨，負責巡察地方、驅除瘟疫與庇佑百姓平安。簡單來說，大千歲就像這場祭典的「主角神明」。
The Great Wang Lord is one of the highest-ranking deities in Wang Ye belief. The term “Qian Sui” originally referred to an honorable title for important figures in ancient China and later became a respectful title for Wang Lords. In the King Boat Festival, the Great Wang Lord is usually the main deity of that festival cycle and holds the highest spiritual authority. Worshippers welcome the Great Wang Lord to inspect the community, remove disease and disasters, and bless local residents with peace and safety. In simple terms, the Great Wang Lord is the central divine figure of the entire festival.
這些詞彙串連起來，其實就構成王船祭的核心流程：先請水迎神，再替王船或神像開光，遶境時由轎班抬轎巡庄，部分儀式進行過火淨化，而整個祭典則由大千歲坐鎮主持，最後完成送王儀式。
Together, these terms form the core process of the King Boat Festival: worshippers first perform Fetching Sacred Water to invite the gods, then hold a Consecration ceremony for the king boat or statues. During the parade, the Palanquin Team carries the deity sedan chair around the community, while some rituals include Fire Crossing for purification. Throughout the festival, the Great Wang Lord serves as the main deity overseeing the entire ceremony until the final sending-off ritual is completed.