China News Service, Beijing, March 25 (Zhang Yangbin) The twelfth academic event of the "Cross-Strait Scholars Face to Face" series was held in Beijing on the 25th. Professor Chen Jinguo of the School of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the Minzu University of China and the famous Taiwanese writer and poet Yang Du attended the event. The cross-strait dialogue began on topics such as exchanges of folk beliefs and customs.
According to data from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, in the past year, tens of thousands of Taiwanese people came to worship at the Mazu Temple on Meizhou Island and participated in sacrificial ceremonies for the Yellow Emperor, Yan Emperor, Fuxi, Guandi, and the Kaizhang Saint King. Folks on both sides of the Taiwan Strait The enthusiasm for cultural exchanges between faith and customs continues to grow.
On March 25, the twelfth academic event series "Cross-Strait Scholars Face to Face" hosted by the Chinese Culture Institute, Xiamen University, and Huaqiao University was held in Beijing. Photo by Zhang Yangbin
Yang Du gave the example of the Taiwanese movie "Zhou Chu Eliminates Three Evils", which has recently become a hit in mainland theaters. The "cup-throwing" plot originated from a unique divination ritual in southern Fujian. "Most of Taiwan's folk beliefs originate from their ancestral homeland, becoming a link between descendants and their ancestors, and their hometown."
Yang Du said that traditional folk beliefs contain values common to both sides of the Taiwan Strait, such as Guandi symbolizing loyalty and Mazu representing blessing and protection. He also mentioned that folk customs and beliefs have continuity and permanence. Even though they were suppressed and "stripped off" during the Japanese occupation, they still have strong vitality among Taiwanese people.
Chen Jinguo agreed. He said that whether it is the folk book of choosing a day, or the separation of spirits and incense offerings between palaces and temples, it can be seen that the common beliefs of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are the link between two-way cultural exchanges. "In fact, before the opening of the 'Little Three Direct Links', people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait began to exchange beliefs and customs." Chen Jinguo believes that folk beliefs are one of the carriers of Chinese civilization, an important expression of Chinese cultural concepts, and carry the continuity of Chinese civilization, The gene for unity.
The rejuvenation and life-oriented traditional beliefs and customs are also the focus of discussion between the two scholars. Chen Jinguo believes that from the wandering spirits of Fujian who "go out of the circle" during the Chinese New Year, it can be seen that traditional beliefs and customs are constantly being integrated into people's lives, and it has heated up the Fujian cultural tourism market and brought new development opportunities. Yang Du said that many young people are participating in the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage event currently being held in Taiwan, which also adds more fashionable elements.
When reporters heard that Mr. Ma Ying-jeou would lead a delegation to visit the mainland in the near future to participate in activities such as the "Qingming Festival Ceremony for Xuanyuan Huangdi in Jiachen (2024)", Yang Du repeatedly praised it, "Cultural root-seeking will extend to the understanding of values We agree that in traditional Chinese values, people should be friendly to each other, and there should be a positive force of peace, friendship, and mutual assistance between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits." (End)