Mazu "settled" in the mountainous areas of southern Fujian and interpreted more than 300 years of mountain and sea culture

Mazu "settled" in the mountainous areas of southern Fujian and interpreted the mountain and sea culture for more than 300 years

Zhangzhou, 5 May (ZXS) -- Mazu "settled" in the mountainous areas of southern Fujian to interpret the mountain and sea culture for more than 12 years

Written by Zhang Jinchuan Liao Zhenmei

Villagers dressed as shrimp soldiers and crab generals and water monsters blocked the way, and the palanquin carrying the statue of Mazu broke through the obstacles and highlighted the encirclement... The mountain and sea cultural and folk activities in the mountainous areas of southern Fujian are full of people, and the strong and interesting "Mazu goes to sea" is spectacular.

The picture shows the scene of the "Mazu goes to sea" ceremony. Photo by Zhang Jinchuan, reporter of China News Agency

On the afternoon of the 11th, the 2023 Mazu Christmas of Meilin Tianhou Temple was held in Meilin Town, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, attracting tourists at home and abroad to watch.

The ritual of "Mazu going to sea" comes from the legend of Mazu riding the waves to save all living beings. The whole ceremony interpreted the legendary story of Mazu who braved the wind and waves to save the suffering. Every year from the 300st to the <>rd of the third month of the lunar calendar, the local worship celebrations are held. Today, this folklore continues for more than <> years.

The picture shows the scene of the "Mazu goes to sea" ceremony. Photo by Zhang Jinchuan, reporter of China News Agency

Mazu is the patron saint of fishermen, Merlin is a mountainous area, why believe in Mazu? According to Wei Maoxiang, executive deputy director of the management committee of Meilin Tianhou Palace, many of the local villagers in Meilin have the surname Wei, and the ancestor of the Wei family moved here in the late Yuan Dynasty. Due to the poverty and remoteness, in order to support their families, the descendants of the Wei family continued to cross the sea as early as 400 years ago to work as coolies or do business in the South Seas. The sea is stormy, the journey is treacherous, life and death are unpredictable, and it is said that Mazu is a goddess of escort who specializes in protecting fishermen and boats.

Therefore, in the last years of the Ming Dynasty, the villagers who stayed behind in their homeland invited Mazu from Meizhou Island in Putian to worship in the mountains, praying that Mazu would bless their relatives safely, and at the same time pinning their thoughts on their overseas relatives. Over time, Mazu "settled" in the mountains.

At the event site, the "Village of Gods" passed by every household, and the villagers burned incense to worship, while photography enthusiasts set up tripods early, and outsiders also gathered by the riverbank to wait for "Mazu to go to sea".

At 12 noon, the parade arrived at Merlin Creek. In the middle of the stream, more than two dozen unmarried strong men carrying turtle shells made of baskets and shrimp skins made of straw, dressed as shrimp soldiers and crab generals, blocking the way in front of them, and constantly splashing palanquins with water. Two long dragons surrounded the palanquin. This is the Sea Dragon King with the shrimp soldiers and crab generals to block Mazu from crossing the sea. Zhuang Ding, who carried the sedan car, broke through the obstacles and went straight to the Tianhou Temple.

The picture shows the scene of the "Mazu goes to sea" ceremony. Photo by Zhang Jinchuan, reporter of China News Agency

It is understood that in September 2009, "Mazu beliefs and customs" was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. At present, there are more than 9,49 Mazu temples divided from the Mazu Temple in Meizhou, covering 3 countries and regions on five continents, with more than <> million Mazu believers.

"The local people have the habit of worshipping Mazu first and then ancestors, hoping to get Mazu's protection." Wei Maoxiang said that the Mazu faith is highly respected in the mountains of southern Fujian, and the villagers who work hard outside are influenced by Mazu's loving and fearless spirit, actively enthusiastic about public welfare undertakings in their hometowns, and do their best to introduce and provide career development channels for villagers.

Wei Yongbin, honorary president of the Macau Yongjing Hometown Association, who returned to his hometown to participate in folk activities, was thrilled when he mentioned his hometown and his relatives. At the age of 11, he followed his mother from Meilin Town to Macau to earn a living, and now runs a restaurant in Macau and has a successful career. This time, he invited many Macao compatriots to come to his hometown to see the beautiful environment of mountains and rivers, and to experience the life of Tulou and the folk culture of Mazu.

"They haven't seen 'Mazu goes to sea', nor have they seen Tulou, this time it is an eye-opener, they all feel that this is a treasure of our nation, and we must inherit and develop it well." As a wanderer working abroad, Wei Yongbin hopes to contribute to the public welfare of his hometown with practical actions in the future.

According to Wei Rongfu, vice president of the Macau Zhangzhou Hometown Association, Fujian Tulou is a world cultural heritage, and Mazu is the sea god jointly believed in in the coastal area, "Two treasures of traditional Chinese culture appeared in Meilin Town at the same time, which is very legendary and worth seeing." ”

Wei Rongfu said that he hopes that the local area will vigorously explore the cultural connotation of Tulou and Mazu, combine the rich mountain water resources, and develop leisure tourism in a line, and at the same time hope to make modest contributions to the development of tourism in his hometown. (End)