On October 10, Chen Chaorong, chairperson of Mashagou Tianhou Temple in Tainan, Taiwan, led 466 people from five temples on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to the Meizhou Mazu Temple to pay homage and offer incense. This marked the 31st year since 1996 that Chen had organized pilgrimages by temples from both sides of the Strait to the Ancestral Temple.
The pilgrimage group arrives at the Ancestral Temple
Branch Mazu statue
The pilgrimage group comprised 466 people. Bringing two eight-bearer sedan chairs, seven statues, and a ceremonial procession with gongs and drums, the group followed ancient rites to pay homage at the Meizhou Mazu Temple. Wu Guochun, vice chairman of the board of directors of the Meizhou Mazu Temple, welcomed the group and joined Chen Chaorong, chairman of Mashagou Tianhou Temple in Taiwan; Wang Tailian, honorary chairman of Mashagou Lisheng Temple in Taiwan; Xie Mingyang, chairman of the Taiwan Association for the Exchange of Outstanding Traditional Chinese Culture; Wu Mingchang, a director of Kunjiao Daitian Temple in Taiwan; Chen Weiguo, secretary-general of Mashagou Liechi Temple in Taiwan; Huang Manshui, general manager of Xiamen Ruiyi Co., Ltd.; and others in performing the Three Offerings Ritual before Mazu.
Three Offerings Ritual
This bond of incense across the Taiwan Strait began in 1996. That year, Chen Chaorong crossed the strait to Zhangzhou and founded Longhai Senmao Plastics Co., Ltd. During the construction of the factory and the establishment of the business, many challenges were successfully resolved with help from various parties. This left him grateful for Mazu's blessings and strengthened his belief that people on both sides of the strait worship the same deity and share the same roots and aspirations. After learning that Meizhou Island is Mazu's ancestral home, he made a commitment to organize an annual pilgrimage during the ninth or tenth month of the lunar calendar, bringing devotees from Mashagou Tianhou Temple in Tainan, Taiwan, and affiliated temples across the strait to pay homage. For 31 years, the group has honored this commitment without fail. In earlier years, hundreds of devotees from Fujian and Taiwan would often gather, respectfully escorting a branch statue of Mazu to the island in a traditional eight-bearer ceremonial sedan chair. Accompanied by an orderly procession, drums, and music, they made their way to the Ancestral Temple to worship, steadfastly upholding this faith-inspired promise to cross the strait and reconnect with their roots.
Presentation of Commemorative Gifts
For 31 years, devotees have crossed the strait to honor this shared commitment, with incense linking friendships between the two sides. As a shared cultural root, belief in Mazu continues to bring people on both sides of the strait closer together and embodies the profound meaning of the saying, "Mazu is revered throughout the world, and her ancestral home is in Meizhou."
People on Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait Are One Family
[Issue 85 of 2026, Overall Issue 435]