China News Network, Fujian Hui'an, May 5 (Sun Hong, Xu Guanhong) Ringing bells and drums, greeting the gods, and extolling the text... On the 10th, the Mazu prayer ceremony of "Petal Incense Exhibition World Heritage, Narrating Cross-Strait Love" was held in Fujian Hui'an Dongling Sea Protection Palace, and Mazu believers on both sides of the strait followed ancient rites to pray for blessings and express their sincere wishes to this sea shelter god.
In the morning of the same day, the bells and drums sounded, the ceremonial officials took their places, and believers on both sides of the strait, dressed in traditional costumes, offered a petal of incense to Mazu according to the ancient rites of greeting the gods, eating, first offering, sub-offering, final offering, drinking blessings and receiving food, withdrawing food, resigning from the gods, and looking for the gods.
Sun Zixuan, one of the organizers of the event and director of the Yipetal Xiang Mazu Cultural Exhibition Hall, introduced that more than 81 compatriots on both sides of the strait, including representatives of 400 palaces and temples in Taiwan, Taiwan students of Huaqiao University, and representatives of Taiwanese youth who started businesses and jobs in the mainland, were organized to carry out Mazu cultural exchange activities, hoping to build a cross-strait Mazu cultural exchange platform and promote cross-strait youth interaction and exchanges.
Believers on both sides of the strait wore traditional costumes to offer a petal of incense to Mazu. Photo by Sun Hong
In Taiwan, there are more than 3000,<> Mazu temples, and believers account for two-thirds of Taiwan's total population. The Mazu faith has become a bond that binds the flesh and blood ties between the two sides of the strait and plays an active role in cross-strait exchanges.
"I'm a child that Mazu watched grow up." "Post-95" Taiwanese youth Zhang Jiahao is a native of Yunlin Beigang, and every year in the third month of the lunar calendar, Mazu of Beigang Chaotian Palace, which has been passed down for more than 300 years, goes on tour to "Mazu ", "I have participated in it, and I am very impressed".
In 2020, Zhang Jiahao followed the footsteps of his relatives and friends to start a business in the mainland, which was his second participation in the Mazu blessing ceremony after three years. "Taiwan is mainly 'carrying sedan cars', which is very lively, and the mainland follows ancient rites and has a sense of ceremony. Although the expression methods of the two sides of the strait are different, the heart of inheriting and carrying forward the Mazu culture is the same, and it is a good thing to learn from each other. ”
The first time he participated in the Mazu blessing ceremony, Chen Yuhan, a Taiwanese student at Huaqiao University, told reporters that "in this process, I felt the power of passing on the torch between the two sides of the strait." During his studies in the mainland, Chen Yuhan, who was not yet 20 years old, began to use the "Internet +" innovation and entrepreneurship project to call on Taiwanese youth to enhance their understanding of the mainland. "Taking this prayer as an example, it not only enhances the emotional and cultural identity of the people on both sides of the strait, but also allows the young people on both sides of the strait to have exchanges and interactions."
Huang Heshan, president of the Mazu Cultural Research Association of Huian County, said that for thousands of years, Mazu has been established with the noble character of "establishing virtue, doing good, and great love", and people revere, remember, and worship, with the intention of "thinking carefully and thinking far". This time, Taiwan believers are invited to participate in the grand event, deepen cross-strait Mazu cultural exchanges, and also hope to build a platform for cross-strait youth to interact, attracting more Taiwanese youth to display their talents on the broad stage of mainland rural revitalization and create a better future.
It is reported that this event is hosted by the Mazu Cultural Research Association of Huian County and the Quanzhou Office of the Taiwan Mazu Friendship Association, and organized by the board of directors and management committee of Yipetal Xiang Mazu Cultural Exhibition Hall and Dongling Sea Protection Palace. During this period, there will also be a Mazu themed coming-of-age ceremony, the launching ceremony of the "Petal Incense World Tour Exhibition" of the Mazu Cultural Exhibition Hall, and supporting activities such as cross-strait youth exchange meetings. (End)