In order to further explore the contemporary value of Mazu culture, continue to expand the connotation and extension of Mazu culture, and promote the innovative development of Mazu culture. On April 23, the opening ceremony of the 2024 "Mazu Festival" cultural series of activities of the China Mazu Cultural Exchange Association and the "Spring Festival of Mazu" ceremony were held in Yiminglou Square, Putian.
Yuan Jingui, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the 11th Fujian Provincial People's Congress and honorary president of the China Mazu Cultural Exchange Association, announced the opening, Su Yongge, director of the Standing Committee of the Putian Municipal People's Congress, and Yu Jianzhong, executive vice president of the China Mazu Cultural Exchange Association, delivered speeches.
The chimes sounded, the drums were beating, the salute was fired, and the five chief priests led the people to accompany the priests to hold the incense, and in accordance with the traditional etiquette, they performed the "three offerings" to Mazu, praying for the peace of the country and the people and the peace of the world. Subsequently, the teachers and students of Meizhou Bay Vocational and Technical College presented a solemn and elegant "Dance of Three Offerings" to the audience, which deeply attracted the attention of Mazu admirers from all over the world.
"Starting from 2021, the China Mazu Cultural Exchange Association has held the 'Spring Festival Mazu' ceremony and a series of cultural activities, and it has been held for four consecutive years this year." Yu Jianzhong introduced in his speech that this series of cultural activities completely presents the essence of the intangible cultural heritage of "Spring Festival Mazu" in the whole process and all elements, achieves the perfect integration of cultural content and innovative forms of expression, and shows the vitality and vitality of the vigorous development of Mazu culture. He said that this year is the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China Mazu Cultural Exchange Association, the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of Mazu beliefs and customs in the World Heritage Site, and the fourth year that the association has held the Spring Festival Mazu Ceremony. "In the future, we will carry out more and better exchanges and cooperation with all over the world, so that we can join hands on a new journey, shoulder to shoulder in the new era, and jointly create a new future for the dissemination and development of Mazu culture on the journey of promoting the spirit of Mazu and promoting Mazu culture."
As the birthplace of Mazu culture, Putian has always kept in mind the entrustment, forged ahead with gratitude, insisted on expanding the connotation of Mazu culture in the era, strived to build a characteristic brand of Mazu culture, actively explored a new path of cross-strait integration and development, continued to expand the influence of Mazu culture in the world, and promoted people-to-people bonds, cultural exchanges, development and sharing in countries and regions jointly built by the "Belt and Road". Standing on the new journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, Su Yongge hopes that the China Mazu Cultural Exchange Association will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Mazu cultural institutions around the world, continuously amplify the effect of Mazu's hometown, and make more contributions to Mazu culture to help "world peace, motherland harmony, social harmony, ethnic harmony, cross-strait harmony, family harmony and beauty".
During the period, a series of activities will also be held, such as the 2024 "Spring Festival Mazu" ceremony, the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China Mazu Cultural Exchange Association, the exhibition ceremony of the works of national calligraphy and painting masters, and the ten-tone and eight-music competition. (Lin Zhaoxi)