In our former agricultural society, people used festivals such as the Lunar New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid Autumn Festival and the Winter Solstice to mark the passage of time. Alongside their significance in terms of praying for good fortune and bringing families together, they also offered opportunities for relaxation following busy farming seasons. After faith in Mazu came to Taiwan, with its transcendence of ethnic groups and places of origin, it became increasingly integrated with local culture and gave rise to various celebrations and cultural activities, including pilgrimages.
In this month’s Cover Story we look at some of the unique craftsmanship expressed in Mazu temples, as well as images of pilgrimages and the experiences of foreigners joining in worship activities, to show how Mazu culture continues in presentday Taiwan, including:
- Mazu: Taiwan’s Leading Goddess
https://reurl.cc/e3Exkm - Divinely Inspired Craftsmanship: Skills Revealed in Mazu Temples
https://reurl.cc/yrEZAl - The Vitality of Faith in Taiwan: Chen Yi-hong’s Images of Folk Religion
https://reurl.cc/rDgxYb - Mad About Mazu: The Passion and Philanthropy of Pilgrimages
https://reurl.cc/d2G0ak
Taiwan Panorama also hosts columns of “Photo Essay”, “Global Outlook”, “Around Taiwan”, “Cultural Trends” and “Comunities” that provides fun and interesting contents, please enjoy: https://reurl.cc/Rr04kn
