Meizhou Island, Fujian, 9 September (ZXS) -- Topic: "Mad Mazu" in Mazu's Hometown: Combing Mazu Bun, Issuing "Steplight Cake," and Tasting "Mazu Noodles"
Written by Ye Qiuyun
"Mazu is very important in the hearts of the older generation of overseas Chinese in the Philippines, is the spiritual pillar when they go to Nanyang to make a living, and also places their thoughts on their hometown and family." Hong Zhuangyan, who lives in the Philippines, specially returned to Putian City, Fujian Province, the "hometown of Mazu", and followed Mazu to patrol An.
On September 9, the 19 Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait escorted Meizhou Mazu Golden Body Tour to Putian was launched. Photo by Zhang Bin, reporter of China News Agency
In 2023, the <>-day, nine-night-long <> compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait escorted Meizhou Mazu Golden Body Patrol continued to be carried out in Putian, staging the grand occasion of Taiwan's "March Mad Mazu". Hong Zhuangyan told reporters in an interview that most overseas Chinese of Fujian origin in the Philippines believe in Mazu and have been passed down from generation to generation, and this "fire" will continue to continue.
Mazu, formerly known as Lin Mo, was born in Meizhou Island, Putian City in 960 AD, and is famous for the legend of helping the poor and rescuing shipwrecks, and is known as the "goddess of the sea". The Mazu Temple of Meizhou that has remained on Meizhou Island is regarded as the hometown of the soul by believers at home and abroad.
At present, there are more than 49,3 Mazu temples divided from the Mazu Temple in Meizhou, covering <> countries and regions on five continents, with more than <> million Mazu believers. For thousands of years, the Mazu culture, with the spiritual connotation of "morality, benevolence and great love", has also become a spiritual bond connecting Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese.
On September 9, Taiwan's Dajia Town Langong Sentinel Corner Team participated in the 19 Cross-Strait Compatriots Escort Meizhou Mazu Golden Body Tour of Anputian. Photo by Zhang Bin, reporter of China News Agency
With incense and firecrackers sounding, Rao Rui from Taipei and his wife Wang Shuhua carried clairvoyant and shunfeng generals weighing more than 30 kilograms on their shoulders, walking in the patrol procession, and distributing a bunch of cakes around the neck of the god generals along the way. Wang Shuhua said that this time, Taiwan's "Jiguang Cake" was specially prepared to hang around the neck of the gods, and distributed to Mazu believers and passers-by along the way, sending them the beautiful blessing of "peace", which is one of Taiwan's more distinctive array cultures.
In the patrol team, 18 Meizhou women wearing Mazu buns and Mazu costumes were very eye-catching. Meizhou women's headdress is a traditional dress for women on Meizhou Island, which has been passed down from generation to generation across thousands of years.
Mazu hair, also known as Meizhou women's headdress, sailing head. The top of the head is coiled into a disc bun, symbolizing the rudder of the ship; the red head rope in the bun, symbolizing the cable; A silver rod runs horizontally through the bun, symbolizing the anchor of the ship; The back of the head is combed into a flat sail bun, symbolizing the sails; The sail bun is sandwiched with wavy hairpins on both sides, symbolizing the oars... The entire hairstyle is combed by hair, and the combing method is complex and delicate.
"All the elements put together to represent a ship, which means smooth sailing." Lin Zhihua, the municipal inheritor of the Fujian Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Project (Meizhou Women's Headdress, Clothing), said that combing Mazu's head and wearing Mazu clothes, Meizhou women worship Mazu in this unique way and pray for peace and happiness.
On September 9, Meizhou women wearing Mazu buns and Mazu costumes participated in the 19 Meizhou Mazu Golden Body Tour of Putian by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Photo by Zhang Bin, reporter of China News Agency
"White-headed pheasant, white-headed pheasant, red thread tied to the limbs", the "Mazu face" described by this nursery rhyme circulating in Putian is also full of the beautiful meaning of peace and peace. During the patrol activities, there must be a bowl of "Mazu noodles" on the table.
At the Mazu Temple in Meizhou, the "Mazu noodles" cooked by volunteer Li Zhilong are especially loved by believers. He said that with the continuous spread of Mazu culture, over time, "Mazu noodles" have become an indispensable delicacy for Putian people to celebrate birthday celebrations for relatives and friends, celebrate festivals, and entertain guests.
Located in the Tianfei Hometown Site Park on Meizhou Island, the Mazu Yuanliu Museum exhibits the "Tianfei Ancestral Monument Place Name Shanglin" inscription, the "Tianfei Hometown" stone carving, Mazu sacrificial supplies, the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, etc., to promote and spread Mazu culture.
In September 2009, "Mazu Beliefs and Customs" was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, becoming China's first World Heritage Site of Beliefs and Customs. In May this year, the group standard of the "Mazu Festival" was released. According to Lin Jinbang, representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage "Mazu Festival", this is the first step to promote the standardization of Mazu beliefs and customs in Meizhou, and will further promote the preservation, inheritance, dissemination and development of Mazu culture.
"Mazu is the spiritual homeland of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese, and it is also the spiritual carrier for overseas children to seek their roots and cultural identity." Lin Jinzan, chairman of the board of directors of Meizhou Mazu Temple, said that he will continue to carry out the "Meizhou Mazu Survey of the World" activity to promote the division of Meizhou Mazu into the world, so that Mazu footprints can spread to more countries and regions. (End)