Ma Yingjeou returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors: Cautious in the end to pursue the long term, and his long-cherished wish was fulfilled

Xiangtan on 4 April (ZXS) -- Ma Ying-jeou returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors: Cautiously pursue the long term and fulfill his long-cherished wish

China News Agency reporter Lu Mei

"Dear Li'an Father-in-law, hello! I am Ying-jeou, the grandson of your old man, and the eldest son of his father Helinggong..." On April 2023, 4, 1-year-old Ma Ying-jeou was able to set foot on his homeland for the first time, standing in front of the tomb of his grandfather Ma Li'an to worship, and personally confiding in his ancestors in a rural voice.

On April 4, Ma Yingjeou and his family went to Xiangtan County in Hunan Province to worship their ancestors. The picture shows Ma Ying-jeou offering wine at an ancestor worship ceremony. Photo by China News Agency reporter Lu Mei

The Majiazu Tomb is located in a paddy field in Shuangyang Village, Cha'en Temple Town, Xiangtan County, Hunan Province, and can be reached through a winding concrete path. The tomb built in 1928 is well preserved, with two tall cypress trees standing on both sides, and the white jade tombstone is engraved with the words "The Tomb of the Elder Daji of the Gong of Khaoma", and the title "Male: Renchu, Rensong, Renji, Sun: Yingjiu, Shi".

At about 10 a.m., Ma Ying-jeou and his four sisters walked slowly to the ancestral tomb, walked to the front to gaze at the tombstone, touched it affectionately, and then stood solemnly in front of the offering table with incense burners, red candles and offerings. The ancestor worship ceremony follows the local custom passed down from generation to generation, and after the firecrackers are fired, Ma Ying-jeou and his family perform a three-way incense ceremony. After Ma Ying-jeou offered flowers and fruits, he recited the sacrifice in Changsha dialect, choking up and crying several times.

On April 4, Ma Yingjeou and his family went to Xiangtan County in Hunan Province to worship their ancestors. The picture shows Ma Ying-jeou (third from left) and his family taking a photo after the ancestor worship ceremony. Photo by China News Agency reporter Lu Mei

He said in the memorial text, "Dear father-in-law, this is the first time in my life to come to the mainland to worship ancestors and visit relatives, and I am very touched in my heart. Your legacy has taught our children to love and be self-reliant, to be helpful and to do their duty. This is our most precious asset in life, inexhaustible. ”

Afterwards, Ma Ying-jeou offered wine and led his family to bow three times to the ancestral grave. After the cannon was fired again, the ceremony was completed.

"My wish for many years came true! I let my ancestors hear me tell him about our development over the decades. When he was interviewed by cross-strait media, Ma Ying-jeou's mood was still difficult to calm down. He said movingly that although he had never met his grandfather, his heart always hoped to come to worship his ancestors, "Prudent pursuit of the long term, and the people's morality is generous, which is a very important part of our Chinese moral education."

When parting, Ma Ying-jeou walked to the tombstone again and leaned over to look at the inscription.

On April 4, Ma Yingjeou and his family went to Xiangtan County in Hunan Province to worship their ancestors. The picture shows Ma Ying-jeou visiting the stone stele in the "Shushan Pavilion" next to Yidu in front of the temple, and one of the "Yidu Plus Donation" steles is engraved with the name of his grandfather Ma Li'an. Photo by China News Agency reporter Lu Mei

After leaving the ancestral tomb, Ma Ying-jeou and his family visited the ruins of the Hongxing Fuguo Factory founded by the Ma family in front of the temple gate Yidu and the Ma family in Tankou Village, Baishi Town. Yidu in front of the temple gate was built during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, but was stagnant due to financial reasons. In 1910, Ma Ying-jeou's grandfather Ma Li'an and other local villagers raised funds to continue the construction and ferry the business people for free, benefiting one side.

Next to Yidu, local villagers put together several inscriptions donated to build Yidu since the Qing Xianfeng period and built a "Shushan Pavilion" to protect it. Ma Ying-jeou was very happy to find his grandfather's name in the "Yidu Plus Donation" monument in the second year of Xuantong.

The villagers who lived next to the ferry port shouted to Ma Ying-jeou: "Welcome Mr. Ma! "Come back often!" Ma Yingjeou waved his hand and responded in a rural voice: "Xiangtan is back!" "Welcome everyone to Taiwan!" "Xiangtan will come back again!" (End)