Matsu in Taiwan

Matsu is the most widely-worshipped deity in Taiwan. In towns large and small, mountain villages and fishing harbors, country towns and city streets, out by the sea and farinland, Matsu temples are everywhere. Taiwan's Matsu culture festival started in the early hours of March 21. The Matsu culture festival activities kicked off from Chenlan Temple in Tachia(大甲), Taichung, and kicks off just after midnight on March 21, extending to FungtienTemple(奉天宮) in Xin Gang(新港), offering incense along the whole route of the procession, through the four counties of Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi, a total of around 372 km, arriving back in Tachia on March 29.

On March 26, my friend and I went to join this big event!! We woke up at 6 in the morning ~ ~" and just in 30 minutes rode to Xin Gang. There were already many many people... "People mountain, people sea." ;-)

You may wonder what's the specialty and the orginal? Simply say, it is the Local Matsus and guest Matsus (from Tachia, Taichung)participate in the trip together!

All gods have birthdays, and Matsu's birthday falls on the 23rd day of the third month in the lunar calendar. All the worship and sacrifice activities are held shortly before and after this date. Most people choose to go to temples and burn incense int he days preceding her birthday, so that Matsu can return to her home before her birthday, and have her birthday celebrated by her local followers. On the day of the birthday, as with the birthdays of most gods, there are "inspection tour" activities, and the inspection tour is carried out within the area under Matsu's jurisdiction, in order to bless and protect the peace with the area. Sometimes, the local Matsu is not enough, and it's necessary to invite in Matsus from other areas as "guest goddesses," and so before the inspection tour, people often hold "inviting Matsu" or "welcoming Matsu" activities, in order to get the local Matsu and guest Matsus to participate in the inspection tour together. In particular, villages which don't have their own tradition of worshipping Matsu will often invite a Matsu from elsewhere to come and have a lively parade on Matsu's birthday.

For me, what's the most exciting thing? :) Some people will provide and cook "free" meals for inspection tours. It was delicious. :P