Cross-Strait Matsu Palace Temple "Cloud" Prayer for the New Year: Hope that the road of exchanges will become wider and wider

　　China News Agency, Ningde, Fujian, January 23rd (Reporter Ye Mao) On January 23rd, the second day of the first month of the lunar calendar, Songshan Tianhou Palace in Xiapu County, Ningde City, Fujian Province joined hands with Fengtian Temple in Xingang, Chiayi, Taiwan, and Cihui Palace in Banqiao, New Taipei to hold the Gui In the New Year's Prayer Ceremony for the Year of Mao, Mazu believers on both sides of the strait "cloud" to bless and pray for the New Year together.

　　At the event site, the Spring Festival Prayer Ceremony was carried out in accordance with the traditional customs of "sacrificing heaven", "giving blessings" and "sacrificing ceremony". Wearing a ribbon and praying devoutly.

　　He Dahuang, chairman of Chiayi Xingang Fengtian Palace, said in the connection that Mazu is the "Goddess of Peace on the Sea" admired by compatriots on both sides of the strait, and is the spiritual bond that maintains the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the strait.

"The two sides of the strait share the same roots, because of Mazu, we are getting closer as we go."

　　As an important place for the dissemination of Mazu beliefs and customs, Xiapu Songshan Tianhou Palace is an existing temple with a long history and high standards in the mainland for offering sacrifices to the Sea God, with a history of thousands of years.

According to research, this is the first Mazu residence after the Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizhou, so it has the reputation of "the honor of Mazu residence". It is the sixth batch of provincial cultural relics protection units in Fujian Province and the exchange base of Ningde City with Taiwan.

　　In recent years, Xiapu Songshan Tianhou Palace has carried out more than 30 cross-strait Mazu cultural exchange activities, and has established perennial contacts with more than 100 Taiwanese Mazu temples and institutions, and has active exchanges with Taiwan.

　　"Mazu culture plays an important role in strengthening the feelings of people on both sides of the strait and promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations." Chen Jie, Secretary-General of the Board of Directors of Songshan Tianhou Palace in Xiapu County, said that he hoped that through Mazu culture, cross-strait people-to-people exchanges will become more active, and the road to cross-strait exchanges Go wider and wider.

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