Unite Chinese people at home and abroad with the spirit of Mazu Draw a new chapter of mutual learning among civilizations
[Macao, October 27th] The 18th Macao International Mazu Culture and Tourism Festival themed “Mazu for a Thousand Autumns, Universally Respected” grandly opened in Macao Mazu Culture Village on the morning of the 27th. The opening ceremony was announced by He Houhua, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Zheng Xincong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Liu Xianfa, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR, and other guests attended the ceremony. Wang Jinping, Honorary Chairman of the Taiwan Traditional Religion Association, Lin Jinzan, Chairman of the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple, and representatives of temples from the mainland, Taiwan, and countries and regions along the “Belt and Road” attended the event. The ceremony was solemn and solemn, with rites and music blending, showing the beauty of Chinese etiquette and the soul of folk customs.
Inheritance of culture Festival restarts
After being suspended for five years due to the epidemic, the Mazu Culture and Tourism Festival has resumed and upgraded to an international event, which is of great significance. Macao, as the only city in the world named after Mazu, has a profound Mazu cultural heritage. Chen Mingjin, chairman of the organizing committee, pointed out in his speech that Mazu belief has long been integrated into the social texture of Macao and has become an important bond connecting Chinese and Western cultures and condensing national emotions. This grand event uses culture as a medium and faith as a bridge to gather Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad to jointly promote excellent traditional Chinese culture and demonstrate the unique charm of Macao as a “platform for cultural exchange between East and West”.
Rites and music blend Pray for blessings across the four seas
The opening ceremony and the Mazu ceremony of the Yi Si year were held in accordance with ancient rites. The main sacrifice, the accompanying sacrifice, and the ritual students were in place, the incense case was solemnly set up, and the bells and drums sounded together. He Houhua, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wang Jinping, Chairman, Lin Jinzan, Chairman, accompanied by Chen Mingjin, Chairman, and Yan Yiping, Executive Chairman, paid homage to the Heaven, offered incense and prayed for blessings, wishing for national peace, good weather, and peace in the four seas.
The Mazu Golden Body Parade and Blessing Activity held in the afternoon attracted thousands of people to form a parade performance team, starting from Chopstick Base, passing through Qingzhou, Taishan to Yuhuan Park. Along the way, the incense was booming, and the citizens and believers greeted each other, praying for good weather and national peace.
Worship across the strait Unity in heart and virtue
Mazu belief has become a common spiritual bond for compatriots on both sides of the strait, transcending regions and social classes. The local standard of “Mazu Festival across the Taiwan Strait” officially implemented this year provides a unified guideline for Mazu festival activities on both sides of the strait, promoting the scientific and institutional inheritance of folklore.
Chen Mingjin stated that the spirit of Mazu “peace, cooperation, and harmony” highly coincides with the concept of the “Belt and Road” initiative, which will surely contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to promoting world peace and development and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Wang Jinping pointed out in his speech that Mazu culture is an important part of excellent traditional Chinese culture. The spirit of helping the poor and the needy, compassionate love, promoting good and suppressing evil is a moral treasure cherished by all Chinese people. Through such cultural festivals, not only can the feelings of global believers be gathered, but the spirit of Mazu’s “virtue, good deeds, and great love” can be widely spread, injecting warm power into promoting social harmony and world peace.
Crafting the City with Culture Boosting Tourism with Festivals
Mazu culture has become an important pillar of Macao’s diverse culture and a driving force for the development of cultural and tourism integration.
During this event, academic seminars, intangible cultural heritage markets, cultural tours, and cultural tourism promotions are held simultaneously, demonstrating the historical depth and contemporary vitality of Mazu culture in a multi-dimensional way. Macao uses cultural festivals as a medium to create a “cultural business card” with international influence, promoting the deep integration of economy, culture, and tourism, and injecting new momentum into the construction of Macao as the “Capital of East Asian Culture”.
Global Response from the World Mazu Culture Alliance
The World Mazu Culture Alliance, as an important platform connecting global Mazu communities and cultural research institutions, has given strong support to this grand event. The Alliance has organized member media to report on the festive celebrations in Chinese, English, Portuguese and other languages, launching special topics such as “Global Mazu Culture Dialogue” and “Youth Heritage Project”, promoting the spread and exchange of Mazu culture worldwide, and letting the brilliance of Chinese culture shine on a wider world.
Passing on the Torch Shining Through the Ages
In 2009, “Mazu Beliefs” were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Experts pointed out that this event, with the concept of “Protection – Inheritance – Innovation”, vividly embodies the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese culture, allowing the ancient faith to shine with new vitality in the new era.
From Meizhou to Macao, from the Chinese coast to the world’s shipping routes, the spirit of Mazu transcends time and space, unites people, and illuminates the maritime border. The successful holding of the 18th Macao International Mazu Culture and Tourism Festival once again proves that Chinese culture has roots and soul, affection and righteousness; Mazu’s great love transcends national boundaries, and the faith of peace connects the world. Macao, this shining pearl on the Maritime Silk Road, is playing a colorful movement of cultural exchange and mutual learning in the new era with its broad cultural mind and confident era style.
The copyright of this article belongs to the “World Mazu Culture Alliance”. It has been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide, covering more than 50 countries and regions, demonstrating the global influence of Mazu culture. Readers from various countries can click the links below to read the version in their respective languages. Responsible editors: Lin Bingbin, Luo Fujin New York report. Please indicate the source and retain the author information when reprinting. Thank you for your attention and support.
