On October 18, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the anniversary of Mazu‘s ascension, the Meizhou Mazu Temple was filled with flags and the sound of drums and music, marking the 1039th anniversary of Mazu’s ascension and the series of activities for the Mazu statue’s procession. Thousands of Mazu devotees gathered in Mazu’s hometown, Meizhou Island, to share in Mazu’s blessings and to honor her virtues, continuing the legacy of Mazu culture that has lasted for a thousand years.
At 8:45 AM, the ceremony for the Mazu statue’s procession was grandly held at the Tianhou Palace of the temple. Chairman Lin Jinzhan of the Meizhou Mazu Temple Board, along with guests, conducted the opening ceremony. The procession featured a grand lineup with distinct characteristics. Performances included traditional folk customs from both sides of the strait, such as the Minrui officials, horse messengers, General Qianshun, and heroic songs, showcasing a vibrant display; followed by a ceremonial team and guards, with Meizhou women in traditional attire and dignified ceremonial officials flanking the Mazu statue, creating a solemn and elegant atmosphere, as devotees from home and abroad accompanied the procession.
Over 30 folk performance teams followed closely behind the Mazu statue, creating a grand procession that extended for miles. As the Mazu statue passed, crowds stopped to pay their respects and make wishes. The lively and immersive folk performances allowed the thousand-year-old Mazu beliefs to thrive and take root, fully showcasing the vibrant vitality and profound heritage of Chinese traditional culture.
At 2:18 PM, the highlight of the series of events—the grand ceremony commemorating the 1039th anniversary of Mazu’s ascension and the sea worship ceremony—was held on the Mazu blessing boat in the lower mountain village of Meizhou Island. Notable guests included former Vice Chairman of the Fujian Provincial Political Consultative Conference Li Zuke, Chairman of the Putian Municipal People’s Congress Su Yongge, Chairman of the Putian Municipal Political Consultative Conference Shen Mengya, former member of the Fujian Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee and advisor to the China Mazu Culture Exchange Association Lin Guangda, President of the Taiwan Mazu Friendship Association and Vice Chairman of the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung, Taiwan Zheng Mingkun, Deputy Secretary of the Putian Municipal Party Committee Wen Xuelin, and other leaders and guests attended the ceremony.
This grand ceremony radiated globally, gathering representatives from nearly 160 Mazu cultural groups across six countries, including Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as provinces like Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hebei, Shanxi, Gansu, Liaoning, Hainan, Henan, Chongqing, Shanghai, Beijing, Anhui, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian. Admirers of Mazu from around the world gathered in Mazu’s hometown to participate in the sea ceremony to pray for blessings and peace.
The ceremony was solemn and well-organized, featuring drum beats, cannon fire, and conch shells. Sixty-four dancers, twenty-four drummers, thirty-six flag bearers, and honor guards entered the scene in an orderly manner. Following ancient rituals, the ceremony included offerings of floral tributes, recitation of sacrificial texts, musical performances, and traditional dances, showcasing the cultural richness and musical civilization of the Mazu festival.
At the end of the ceremony, Lin Jinzhan, along with representatives from Mazu cultural groups worldwide, conducted a release ceremony, conveying the harmonious concept of “people and the sea, the sea and the world, Mazu and all beings.” Subsequently, twenty-eight fishing boats collectively sounded their horns, and the melodious flute echoed across the sea, as the boats sailed away in formation, marking a warm and solemn conclusion to the entire ceremony.
Zheng Mingkun stated: The spirit of Mazu, characterized by “virtue, kindness, and great love,” is a vivid embodiment of excellent traditional Chinese culture, originating from Meizhou and spreading far and wide, representing the cultural bond shared by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. For many years, the Dajia Zhenlan Temple has organized groups to visit Meizhou to pay respects, and the golden statue of Mazu has visited Taiwan twice for peace tours. The exchanges between temples on both sides continue to deepen the bonds of incense and heritage, passing down the cultural lineage of Mazu. In the future, we hope to work hand in hand with the Meizhou Mazu Temple and Mazu temples across the Strait, using culture as a bridge and great love as the soul, to continue deepening folk exchanges across the Strait, preserving the cultural lineage of Mazu, and contributing to social harmony and peace across the seas.
Huang Baoluo expressed: Although my father is originally from China and I grew up overseas, I have always admired Mazu culture and have witnessed its roots and spread overseas. This visit to Meizhou Island is both a journey to trace my roots and a spiritual experience to understand Mazu culture. The spirit of Mazu, characterized by “virtue, kindness, and great love,” has lasted for thousands of years. Mazu culture transcends mountains and seas, connecting different civilizations, and serves as a global symbol of marine culture and peace. This cultural bond has taken root in Wales, becoming an important card to enhance the friendship between the two places. Faith knows no boundaries and is not hindered by geography. Returning to the ancestral temple to honor Mazu fills me with pride, and I am acutely aware of the responsibility on my shoulders. In the future, I hope to work with the Meizhou Mazu Temple and Mazu admirers worldwide to safeguard the roots of Chinese culture, allowing the spirit of Mazu to transcend borders and warm the hearts of more people.
Lin Jinzhan stated: Mazu culture originated in Meizhou, and the Mazu belief was listed as a representative work of intangible cultural heritage in 2009. This year, the exchanges between temples across the Strait and youth study programs have shown significant results, with over 600 Taiwanese compatriots gathering across the sea to honor Mazu today. The ancestral temple will strengthen the bonds of incense and cultural integration to solidify the foundation of cross-Strait unity, deeply cultivating the two major event brands of “Mazu Returns Home” and “Mazu Travels the World,” promoting Mazu beliefs and the “Mazu” meteorological program to more countries, transforming prayers for maritime peace into practices of cultural mutual learning. To facilitate future dialogue, we aim to create a world Mazu cultural center.
Su Yongge stated: Mazu culture has a history of thousands of years and has established over ten thousand temples in 52 countries and regions worldwide, serving as a spiritual bond that unites Chinese people at home and abroad and maintains the emotional ties between compatriots on both sides of the Strait. To pass on Mazu culture, we must uphold integrity and innovate. The “Mazu” satellite and meteorological intelligent early warning program aim to integrate traditional culture with modern technology, continuing the spirit of benefiting the world and ensuring peace. In the future, we will inherit the great love spirit of our predecessors, deeply cultivate the well-being of people’s lives, empower the high-quality development of Putian, promote the construction of the “Four Cities Shining Together,” and move towards the vision of a harmonious Putian and common prosperity, continuously enriching the cultural heritage of a thousand years and showcasing the warmth of a city of great love.
After the grand ceremony, Lin Jinzhan once again invited Mazu admirers from home and abroad to respectfully request the golden statue of Mazu to embark on a journey, spreading auspicious blessings to thousands of households on the island.
It is understood that this series of commemorative activities is rich in content and diverse in form. In addition to the Mazu golden statue’s peace tour around Meizhou Island and the sea ceremony to pray for blessings, various cultural activities will be held during the event period, including the donation ceremony for the ancient Mazu bronze statue and platform project, and the launch ceremony of the “Hearts Returning from All Seas” project, among others, to multi-dimensionally inherit the spirit of Mazu, promote Mazu culture, deepen cultural exchanges between Mazu admirers at home and abroad, and strengthen the emotional ties between compatriots on both sides of the Strait.
This article is reproduced from the Media Department of the Meizhou Mazu Temple Board, ◎Images | Zhou Jianguo, Cheng Liting, Chen Lin, Lin Lixuan, Zhuang Xuexiong, Chen Zexi, Zhang Ying, Nan Jin, Su Shaohan, Huang Yudiao, Zhuang Fei, etc., ◎Editor | Cheng Liting. It has been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide, covering over 50 countries and regions, showcasing the global influence of Mazu culture. Edited by: Lin Bingbin, Luo Fujin from New York, and reprinted by international news media 【World Headlines】World Headlines. For reprints, please indicate the source and retain author information. Thank you for your attention and support.
