Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
highest title, Empress of Heaven, was conferred after she reportedly assisted in
overthrowing Dutch rule in Taiwan - by stemming the tides, as legend has it.
Matsu worship came to Taiwan with the earliest settlers and her oldest temples
date back to the 16th century. Today there are more than 500 Matsu temples
around the island. Statues of the goddess usually depict her with black skin, a
beaded veil and a red cape. Standing next to her are her loyal attendants, Eyes
That See a Thousand Miles and Ears That Hear upon the Wind, two demons that
she subjugated and rescued from hell.
The Pilgimage
The pilgrimage is the largest and most celebrated religious and folk activity in the
country. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and spectators from all over the island
and abroad escort a palanquin, graced by a statue of Matsu, from Dajia to
Hsinkang in southern Taiwan, and then back again, covering a distance of over
350km. The goddess is carried through 50 towns; over a million people see her
pass their homes.
Many devotees will follow Matsu for the full nine days. They'll jostle each other to
touch the sedan chair, while the most devout will jump to the front and actually
kneel down on the road to allow the goddess to be carried over them. According to
legend, touching the palanquin will confer good luck for a whole year.
The dates for the pilgrimage are announced every year in March.Bwah bwey
(casting moon blocks) are used to determine the starting dates, though the god-
dess is only given weekends as a choice. The first, fourth (when the palanquin
reaches Fengtian Gong) and last days are the most spectacular, but now many
subordinate temples are starting to let their own statues and palanquins arrive
early to avoid overcrowding and the frequent gang fights that erupt on the last day.
If you decide to join the pilgrimage, note that temples and volunteers along the
way will provide water, basic meals and accommodation. The schedule is usually
as follows:
»
Day 1: Pilgrims leave
Chenlan Temple
in Dajia around midnight and end their
walk at
Nanyao Temple
, Changhua city.
»
Day 2:
Fuhsing Temple
in Siluo Township, Yunlin County.
»
Day 3:
Fengtian Temple
in Hsingang Township, Chiayi County.
»
Day 4: Main blessing ceremony and a second night at Fengtian Temple.
»
Day 5:
Fuhsing Temple
in Siluo Township, Yunlin County.
»
Day 6:
Chengan Temple
in Beidou Township, Changhua County.
»
Day 7:
Tienhou Temple
in Changhua city.
»
Day 8:
Chaohsing Temple
in Qingshuei Township, Taichung County.
