From August 27 to 29, the ‘Bonds Across the Four Seas’ Mazu cultural exchange event was held in Putian. This event was guided by the Fujian Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation and the Fujian Provincial Tourism Association, organized by the Overseas Tourism Branch of the Provincial Tourism Association, and co-organized by the Putian City Overseas Chinese Federation and Four Gentlemen Classical Furniture Co., Ltd. The event invited 45 participants, including representatives from Mazu temples in 13 countries such as Australia, Italy, Hungary, Malaysia, and Japan, as well as representatives from the Overseas Tourism Branch and special guests engaged in Mazu cultural dissemination.
During the special seminar held on the afternoon of the 28th, representatives from various Mazu temples, including Dai Bingfan, President of the Australian Mazu Association; Liu Guanghua, Founding President of the Italy China Peaceful Reunification Promotion Association; Zheng Chunsheng, Director of the Budapest Tianhou Palace in Hungary; Zheng Wenxin, Supervisory Chairman of the Kuching Hokkien Association in Malaysia; and Yang Minghui, President of the Ryukyu Fuzhou Shiyih Association in Japan, shared insights on Mazu spirit and cultural exchange. Zhang Bo, Vice President of the Overseas Branch of the Fujian Provincial Tourism Association, and Cao Yanling, President of the European Chinese Community Federation, spoke about further enhancing the overseas dissemination of Mazu culture. Lin Jinzhan, Chairman of the Meizhou Mazu Temple Board, introduced recent efforts and future plans for promoting Mazu culture overseas.
Chen Shihai, Chairman of the Fujian Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Provincial Political Consultative Conference, attended the seminar and delivered a speech. He pointed out that each Mazu statue from the ‘Bonds Across the Four Seas’ event embodies the hard work of overseas Chinese groups and carries the common hope of local overseas Chinese and believers for peace, harmony, and reunion. It is essential to continue strengthening the ‘Bonds Across the Four Seas’ brand, uphold cultural soul-building, and tell the story of Mazu well; leverage the advantages of overseas Chinese to expand the scope of connections; and promote spiritual communication through grassroots channels.
Huang Zhenyao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Putian Municipal Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, stated that Mazu belief is a spiritual home and emotional identity for many overseas Chinese. The Mazu statue serves as a starting point and a new opportunity. Using Mazu culture as a bond, we should deepen national sentiment and enhance cultural identity, contributing to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind while effectively promoting Mazu culture.
During the exchange event, participants also visited the Meizhou Mazu Temple, Mazu Cultural Park, and the Tianfei Hometown Ruins; conducted research at the Mazu Cultural Research Center of Putian University; and engaged in discussions at Four Gentlemen Classical Furniture Co., Ltd.
Source: Cultural Exchange Department of the Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation
