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