Brief introduction of Mazu belief

Mazu belief is one of the most common Han folk beliefs in Taiwan Province. Because most of the early Han immigrants came from Fujian and Chinese mainland, while Taiwan Province Province was surrounded by the sea and had frequent maritime activities, Mazu became one of the most commonly believed gods in Taiwan Province Province. Mazu Tempel can be seen in every street, mountain and sea settlement and metropolis. There are 565,438+00 Mazu Tempel in Taiwan Province Province alone, among which 40 temples can be tested in history, of which 3 were built in Ming Dynasty and 37 were built in Qing Dynasty (including one of the three mothers of Meizhou Ancestral Temple).

After Mazu belief was introduced into Taiwan Province Province, it gradually formed its own characteristics. Some scholars believe that Mazu has developed its own characteristics which are different from those of Mazu in China: "Mazu was originally Mazu off the coast of southern Fujian, China, but only the patron saint of fishermen. But Mazu in Taiwan Province Province has become "Mazu crossing the sea", and she has historically become the patron saint of immigrants who left Chinese mainland to pray for peace in Taiwan Province Province. Although a large number of pilgrims come to Mazu Tempel, Meizhou, China to burn incense every year, Mazu in Taiwan Province Province has actually taken root in this land, becoming the deity of Taiwan Province Province, independent of Mazu in the mainland, and has its own system. This view has been recognized by several scholars.

It is worth noting that Mazu belief also includes the worship of clans and surname groups. Because Mazu's surname is Lin Zhilian, the Lins all over Taiwan Province Province like to call Mazu aunt and grandparents, so as to close the close relationship between Mazu and Lin, and Lin often calls himself Mazu's descendant and grandson, and even organizes large-scale * * * sacrifice groups, such as the "Goddess Club of Taipei Seven Corners Society" and the "Goddess Club of Twenty-four Grandmothers in Central China".

The rigorous sacrificial ceremonies, folklore, artistic achievements, festival customs and other humanistic customs accompanied by Mazu belief are important cultural wealth of the Han nationality in Taiwan Province. Among the important folk customs in the country judged by the Cultural Development Association, there are three related to Mazu belief, namely, Mazu in Dajia went around the border to make a pilgrimage, Mazu in Baishatun made a pilgrimage, and Mazu in Beigang welcomed the Heavenly Palace.