TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Baishatun (白沙屯) Gongtian Temple (拱天宮) Mazu Pilgrimage, a revered religious event in Taiwan, will commence on April 12 at 11:55 p.m. from Baishatun in Tongxiao township (通霄鎮), Miaoli County. This year, organizers have introduced the other two Mazu to join the pilgrimage, marking the first time that three deities are in the event.
The pilgrimage, which has been a tradition for nearly 200 years, will see participants walk over 300 kilometers to Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) in Beigang (北港), Yunlin County. The journey's schedule, typically spanning 6 to 12 days, relies entirely on Mazu's divine guidance, adding an element of unpredictability to the event.
The Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage, registered as a national intangible cultural asset in 2010, is a significant religious ritual that has been rooted in Taiwan's traditional culture. Participants must adhere to certain taboos, such as fasting for three days before the pilgrimage, and those in mourning or pregnant women are advised not to join. The pilgrimage symbolizes a purification of faith, and those who complete the entire or half journey on foot receive a commemorative banner.
Historically, the pilgrimage faced interruptions during the Japanese colonial period from 1937 to 1945 due to the Japanization policy, which suppressed local beliefs and attempted to erase Chinese culture. After World War II, community leaders and temple officials revived the tradition, ensuring the Mazu faith's continuity with the core event of walking from Baishatun Gongtian Temple to Beigang. The route primarily covers coastal areas of Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, and Yunlin counties, with last year's return journey venturing into Nantou County for the first time.
