Lin Jinzhan Leads Delegation at the Second Global Mazu Culture Forum, Promoting Sino-American Cultural Exchange and World Peace

On October 19, 2024, the Second Global Mazu Culture Forum was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, drawing together cultural leaders, scholars, representatives from UN NGOs, and Mazu believers from around the globe. This cultural event, centered on the spirit of Mazu, was organized by the American Mazu Foundation to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of Mazu worship in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Lin Jinzhan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple, led a delegation to the forum and played a key role throughout the event, further promoting the global spread of Mazu’s spirit and fostering deep cultural exchanges between China and the U.S.

Forum Opening: Mazu Culture in Dialogue with the World

During the forum’s opening ceremony, Zhu Rongbin, President of the American Mazu Foundation, delivered a heartfelt speech, emphasizing that Mazu culture serves as a critical bridge for Sino-American cultural dialogue and cooperation. He noted that in the current global context, Mazu’s values of “compassion, peace, and inclusiveness” hold special significance for fostering global harmony. Zhu expressed his hope that the forum would strengthen cultural ties between China and the U.S. and promote the spread of Mazu culture in the U.S. and worldwide.

Multicultural Perspectives: Global Guests Discuss Mazu’s Spirit

At the opening ceremony, Zhu Rongbin, President of the World Mazu Culture Exchange Association and American Mazu Foundation, Founding President Huang Shengfa, Chairwoman Huang Mingping, along with esteemed guests such as UN Committee of Religious NGOs Secretary-General Guruji H.H. Dileepkumar, UN World Council of Peoples Chair Dr. Sherrill Kazan, Harlem Community Honorary Queen Mother Delois Blakely, UN Permanent Representative of the Digital Communications Observing Organization Toshihiko Murata, Director of the UN Barinu Institute for Economic Development Uwaifo Aromose, Chinese Consul General in New York Xing Yulin, and representatives from various U.S. and global communities, delivered keynote speeches. They emphasized the importance of Mazu culture, highlighting its core values of compassion, peace, and inclusiveness as essential for global peace and harmony. The guests expressed their hopes that the forum would inspire more people to engage in the global promotion of Mazu culture, contributing to cultural diversity and world peace.

As one of the forum’s core speakers, Lin Jinzhan delivered an important speech at the opening ceremony, highlighting that Mazu culture has become an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage. He emphasized that its core values hold great potential for promoting international cultural understanding and peaceful cooperation. Lin called on global communities to unite and use Mazu culture as a bridge to foster cultural exchange and peaceful coexistence among nations.

During the forum, Secretary-General of the World Mazu Culture Exchange Association, Zou Jiesheng, read a congratulatory letter from U.S. Representative Ted Lieu of California’s 36th Congressional District, expressing his support for the forum. Additionally, numerous organizations such as U.S. Representative Grace Meng, New York City Councilmember Sandra Ung, New York State Senator John Liu, and several global organizations sent congratulatory messages, praising Mazu culture as a “symbol of global peace and cultural diversity.” They noted that the values of compassion, peace, and inclusiveness that Mazu represents are much-needed in today’s world.

The forum featured a range of activities, including formal banquets, academic discussions, gift exchanges, and award presentations.

Gala Celebration: A Feast of Culture and Art

On the evening of the forum’s conclusion, Lin Jinzhan attended a grand gala in New York with distinguished guests, celebrating the event’s success. The Canada Tianfei Multicultural Arts Troupe performed musical and dance pieces, including “Blossoms and Full Moon,” “Tea Picking Dance,” “My Motherland,” “Lin Zexu’s Exile,” “Tang Music,” “Red Dumplings,” and “Towards Mazu,” demonstrating the harmonious blending of Mazu culture with other artistic traditions. Lin Jinzhan and the guests celebrated the occasion and further explored the inheritance and innovation of Mazu culture in a global context.

At the gala, Lin Jinzhan expressed his confidence in the future development of Mazu culture. He emphasized that its core value lies not only in preserving Chinese tradition but also in promoting global cultural diversity and harmonious coexistence. He also mentioned the continued collaboration with the American Mazu Foundation to promote the internationalization of Mazu’s spirit.

A Milestone for Cultural Exchange and Global Cooperation

The year 2024 marks the 1064th anniversary of Mazu’s birth and the 15th anniversary of Mazu worship being listed as UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Lin Jinzhan’s leadership at the Second Global Mazu Culture Forum demonstrated Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple’s central role in promoting Mazu culture worldwide. It also made significant contributions to Sino-American cultural exchange and global peace. The success of this forum marked a milestone in Mazu culture’s journey to the world stage, laying a solid foundation for future international cultural dialogue and cooperation.

Lin Jinzhan Visits the American Mazu Temple in New York, Fostering Cultural Integration

During the forum, Lin Jinzhan also visited the American Mazu Temple in New York, where he conducted a solemn worship ceremony. Accompanied by Zhu Rongbin, the group offered a traditional three-sacrifice ceremony to Mazu, praying for world peace and favorable weather. This visit symbolized the deep connection between Mazu culture in China and the U.S. and laid the foundation for future cultural cooperation.

During discussions with Zhu Rongbin, Lin Jinzhan explored how to adapt Mazu culture to the American cultural context and promote its localized spread in the U.S. He emphasized that Mazu’s values of “compassion” and “peace” hold universal appeal. Both leaders agreed to continue promoting Mazu culture through future events, using it as a cultural bridge to connect broader international communities.

Looking Forward: The Global Future of Mazu’s Spirit

Through this forum, Lin Jinzhan and his delegation reiterated Mazu’s essential role in global peace, cultural exchange, and international cooperation. He emphasized that Mazu’s core principles—great love, peace, and inclusiveness—transcend borders and cultures, serving as a shared spiritual treasure for all humanity. Looking ahead, Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple will continue to promote Mazu culture through various international events, using Mazu’s spirit as a bond to foster cultural collaboration and world peace. This event not only furthered Sino-American cultural integration but also created new possibilities for the internationalization of Mazu culture. As Lin Jinzhan remarked, “The spirit of Mazu will continue to lead us towards a more harmonious and beautiful world.”