Chiiz Volume 05 : Travel Photography | Page 29

Chinese Folk Religion by Ariana Lindquist Since the late Qing Dynasty Chinese folk religion has been blamed for a host of the country’s woes, from being a source of China’s “century of humiliation” to hindering the nation from becoming a glorious communist utopia. During the Cultural Revolution it was the focus of vicious mass campaigns intent on destroying the traditional belief system and cultural practices. After Mao’s death the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took a more laissez-faire attitude towards religion. Since that time folk religion has made a surprising comeback. Folk religion’s rapid resurgence reveals that sustained official antipathy did not successfully obliterate the practice, but instead drove it underground. Accurate statistics about religion in China can be difficult to come by, but one recent survey estimates that more than 417 million people practice folk religion. This number is 50 million more people than the total adherents of the five officially recognized religions (Buddhism, Catholicism, Christianity, Daoism and Islam) combined. The CCP does not recognize folk religion as a religion. Instead, the government views it as a set of traditional beliefs and practices. Because of this, believers who want to revive religious customs and local government officials who Enjoying the festive atmosphere, opera performers play mahjong during their free time before a performance at Wenxing Temple. Canon EOS 5D Mark II 24mm F/2.8 1/125s ISO3200 wish to increase tourism revenue may pursue a political strategy of classifying folk religious practice as cultural heritage. Mazu ( ) is a popular folk goddess, the protector of seafarers. In 2009 UNESCO designated Mazu worship as “intangible cultural heritage of humanity.” Registering Mazu as cultural he ritage cleared the way for government officials to promote Mazu tourism. There are an estimated 200 million Mazu believers worldwide and thousands pilgrimage to her birthplace on Meizhou Island each year. The following documents Mazu’s birthday festivities on Meizhou Island, Fujian province. Village ladies, dressed in lucky red clothing, put last minute touches on the elaborate food offerings placed before the altar of the Mazu, where the temple’s icon is placed. Food offerings are given in thanks for the goddess’s protection. Canon EOS 5D Mark II 24mm F/3.5 1/30s ISO500 A villager prays to the goddess Mazu at the Wenxing temple. Meizhou is a fishing island and many women pray to Mazu for the safe return of their menfolk. Canon EOS 5D Mark II 35mm F/2.8 1/100s ISO2000