Tin Hau Temple

 

(Voiceover)

00:11 Zhu Xi, a Chinese scholar of the Song Dynasty, once described the city of Quanzhou in a couplet: "This place, renowned as a land of Buddhism has sages on every corner".

 

00:26 On the 15th day of the first lunar month, during China's Lantern Festival, Tin Hau Temple, or Temple of the Queen of Heaven, experiences its busiest time. Tourists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China gather here for Qigui: a turtle-praying ceremony that demonstrates their hopes for a bountiful harvest.

 

(Interview)

Xu Xiaohui - Director, Historical Relic Preservation Institute of Tin Hau Temple

00:51 "The Qigui ceremony can be traced back to ancient times on the Chinese mainland but was lost for many years. With the increasingly closer ties between the mainland and Taiwan, particularly religious and cultural connections, we decided to get in touch with Tin Hau Temple in Penghu, Taiwan, and reintroduced the ceremony at our own temple nine years ago."

 

(Voiceover)

01:28 These days, Tin Hau Temple attracts a large number of pilgrims from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and even as far away as Southeast Asia. The culture of Mazu worship has been classified an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

 

01:54 As the temple of Mazu with the longest history, highest rank and the largest size, Tin Hau Temple still maintains its original buildings. Though it has gone through several restoration projects, all its bricks, tiles, and stone inscriptions represent indelible historical vestiges.

 

(Interview)

Xu Xiaohui - Director, Historical Relic Preservation Institute of Tin Hau Temple

02:17 "Tin Hau Temple in Quanzhou is the temple of Mazu with the longest history, the highest rank and the largest size in China. Though it was built 819 years ago, in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), it has been well preserved. It comprises three gates, east and west wings, a bell tower and drum tower, stage, grand hall and dressing tower."

 

(Voiceover)

02:48 As time passes, mere mortals vanish but their faith lives on. The Tin Hau Temple, like a lustrous pearl on the seabed, expresses the local people's wishes for calm waters and brings peace and happiness.