China News Service, Meizhou Island, Fujian, January 28 (Ye Qiuyun) "It has been more than 20 years since we last respectfully invited Mazu to return to her 'natal home' in Meizhou. When we came to the Meizhou Mazu Temple again, everyone felt... We are all very excited, the Meizhou Mazu Temple has changed so much." On the 28th, Wu Zhihui, chairman of Shizantian Temple in Dingdong, Taiwan, said with emotion on Meizhou Island, Putian City, Fujian Province.
On January 28, a group of more than 30 people including Shizan Tiangong in Dingdong, Taiwan, respectfully invited Mazu from the branch to go to the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple on Meizhou Island in Putian City to pay homage to the ancestor and offer incense. Photo by Cheng Liting
On the same day, a delegation of more than 30 people from Shizan Tiangong, Guanmiao Shenglong Temple, Yuzhi Jiulong Palace in Ziguan District, and Yuzhi Shengyu Hall in Dingdong, Taiwan, formed a delegation to respectfully invite Mazu to go to the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple on Meizhou Island in Putian City to pay homage to the ancestor and offer incense. , make three offerings to Mazu.
Mazu in the world has her ancestors in Meizhou. At present, there are tens of thousands of Mazu temples in 49 countries and regions around the world with spirits derived from the Meizhou Mazu Temple. More than 300 million people believe in Mazu. In Taiwan, there are more than 3,000 Mazu temples, and believers account for two-thirds of Taiwan's total population. Mazu belief is particularly prosperous in Taiwan, and people regard Meizhou Island as their "natal home" or "spiritual homeland."
Wu Zhihui said that he hopes to use this event as an opportunity to further deepen the cultural exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan Mazu, so that Mazu culture can be passed down from generation to generation.
Mazu culture is the memory of hometown deep in the spirit of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. In recent years, the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple has joined forces with Mazu cultural institutions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to hold the "Meizhou Mazu Tour around the World" folklore exchange event. Lin Jinzan, chairman of the board of directors of the Meizhou Mazu Temple, said that the brand influence of the "Meizhou Mazu Tour around the World" folklore exchange event has become increasingly prominent. The event has received active participation from many Taiwanese Mazu cultural admirers, and has promoted spiritual harmony between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
As the influence of Mazu culture continues to increase, in 2009, "Mazu beliefs and customs" including Mazu rituals were included in the Representative List of Human Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, becoming China's first belief-custom world heritage.
"This year marks the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of 'Mazu Beliefs and Customs' on the Representative List of Human Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Meizhou Mazu Temple will prepare for patrols in Japan, Taiwan, China and other countries and regions." As a member of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Lin Jinzan suggested that active Promote Meizhou Mazu’s patrol of Taiwan and continuously promote the double cycle of “invite in and go out” of Meizhou Mazu’s patrol around the world. (over)