Mazu Pilgrimage Proceeds as Usual: How to Prevent Epidemic While 200,000 People Live and Eat Together?
The 2020 Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage is set to begin on March 19, at a time when Wuhan pneumonia epidemic prevention is at a critical stage. This largest religious event, which passes through 21 townships and cities with over hundreds of thousands of accompanying worshippers, faces its greatest controversy ever. Outsiders are calling on Zhenlan Temple to cancel or postpone the pilgrimage to avoid a gap in epidemic prevention. Zhenlan Temple Chairman Yen Ching-piao stated, "It is confirmed to proceed, Mazu will bless everyone." With 200,000 people living and eating together while also needing epidemic prevention, the local organizations, temples and schools along the route that provide accommodation are at their wits' end.
Xiluo Fuxing Temple stated it will add forehead thermometers to check whether worshippers entering the temple have abnormal body temperatures, but balancing accommodation with epidemic prevention is a major challenge. Residents of Xingang Township in Chiayi suggest postponing the pilgrimage, but Xingang Fengtian Temple stated, "Considering years of friendship, since Dajia Zhenlan Temple has decided through divination blocks to hold it, Fengtian Temple cannot be discourteous." It stated it will strengthen epidemic prevention and welcome pilgrims as usual.
Xingang resident and physician Chen Chin-huang, former CEO of the 921 Reconstruction Commission, expressed opposition, believing: Mazu ceremonies involve incense greeting at the temple forecourt of Fengtian Temple, with worshippers praying and chanting sutras, creating high risk of droplet transmission. "This time there are many asymptomatic carriers without fever, even doctors are nervously waiting, anyone who understands the situation should be nervous." He hopes epidemic prevention experts from the Ministry of Health and Welfare will understand the nature of the on-site activities. A Ministry of Health and Welfare contact stated that a special project discussion will be held regarding the Mazu pilgrimage, with the official final decision as the standard.
Xingang Locals Hold Emergency Meeting, Call for Postponement
The 2020 Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage was confirmed through a second round of divination blocks on Lantern Festival night, scheduled to begin on March 19 of the Gregorian calendar in the evening and return on March 28. It is expected to pass through Changhua, Xiluo, arriving at Xingang Fengtian Temple on the 22nd, with the birthday celebration ceremony held on the 23rd, departing that evening, then passing through Beidou, Changhua, and Qingshui before returning north. The entire pilgrimage lasts eight days and seven nights, passing through 21 townships and cities, with an estimated over 200,000 accompanying worshippers.
Xingang in Chiayi is a key town on the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage route. This morning (the 24th), Fengtian Temple Chairman Ho Ta-huang presided over an epidemic prevention meeting. Dajia Zhenlan Temple Vice Chairman Cheng Ming-kun, from the pilgrimage organizing body, also attended to hear local opinions. Many residents at the venue expressed concerns about the risk of epidemic transmission, suggesting the pilgrimage be postponed.
Xingang Cultural and Educational Foundation Chairman Chen Cheng-hung stated that if it continues, local organizations will still fully cooperate, but considering the current severe epidemic prevention situation, with countries successively banning large-scale events, he hopes the temple can postpone the pilgrimage until the epidemic subsides before holding it.
Executive Yuan advisor and former business district chairman Lin Chiu-kuei pointed out that with the pneumonia epidemic, there is droplet transmission risk within two meters. During the pilgrimage, hundreds of thousands of worshippers gather in the small town, and meal provision, accommodation and other needs cannot eliminate the risk. Residents also spoke up pointing out that even with disinfection and quarantine at various intersections, droplet transmission likely cannot be eradicated by intersection disinfection.
Temple: Cannot Refuse Worshippers and Must Consider Years of Incense-Greeting Tradition
Facing various voices of opposition, Ho Ta-huang stated: "Considering the years of friendship between Zhenlan Temple and Fengtian Temple, since Dajia Zhenlan Temple has decided through divination blocks to hold it, Fengtian Temple cannot be discourteous. Currently we will ask the county government to support epidemic prevention, hoping all sectors continue to support." Ho also mentioned the temple's dilemma: "Whether the pilgrimage is held or not is not something Fengtian Temple can decide unilaterally. The temple cannot refuse worshippers' pilgrimage! Now that it has been decided to proceed as usual, what needs to be handled is how to do epidemic prevention well."
For many years, Xingang Fengtian Temple and Beigang Chaotian Temple have been quietly competing for popularity. Ho also specifically mentioned, "Beigang Chaotian Temple has not announced stopping pilgrimage activities, so Xingang has no reason to unilaterally stop." He stated that not only Dajia Mazu, but also Changhua Mazu and Miaoli Baishatun Mazu pilgrimages are all being held as usual.
According to local sources, Zhenlan Temple's pilgrimage tradition involves the historical rivalries among the three major Mazu temples of Dajia, Beigang and Xingang, touching sensitive nerves and making it difficult to change. Thirty years ago, Zhenlan Temple customarily went to Beigang Chaotian Temple for incense greeting. Because Zhenlan Temple enshrined a replica of Meizhou Mazu, wanting to prove equal status with Chaotian Temple and dispel the impression of being a branch of Chaotian Temple, friction arose between both sides. Zhenlan Temple later switched to Fengtian Temple for incense greeting. Xingang and Beigang both belonged to ancient Benkang, with Mazu temples sharing the same origin, so the two temples also had an orthodox status dispute, only reconciling in recent years.
