마카오와 媽祖信仰

Abstract

Folk religion is the most common and important regional tradition in East Asia culture. Today, folk religion is actively rising, among them, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yu(關羽) and MaZu(媽祖) worship is the most general phenomenon in China. Especially MaZu is becoming worship subject for millions of people since Song Dynasty. MaZu was born 960, in MeiZhou Island(湄洲島), PutTian(莆田) County, FuJian Province, her name is LinMo. She told fortunes for the country people during her lifetime, and she also repeatedly appeared out of the sea for the protection of mariner safety during her after her death. Therefore all the ages conferred Mazu with a title. Then MaZu faith that began from PuTian County according to developing foreign trade spread throughout domestic and foreign with QianZhou(泉州) as the center. Macao, the appellation ‘Macau’ is originated in register of MaZuGe which is in the MaZu tomb is common awareness to Chinese and Western scholar. FuJian(福建) merchant built a hall in each region; it’s for enshrinement of MaZu during the Ming(明) and Qing(淸) Dynasty, and it would build by MingChao merchant XuanZong(憲宗) Chenghua(成化) Era (1465-1487) in Macao, but by FuJian merchant action, construction of Mazu tomb can go way back to 3rd year of JingTai(景泰) through 2nd year of QianShun(天順). When Macanese fishing sail, they were praying toward MaZuGe(媽祖閣) for safety of ship, when they come back from their sailing, they were expressing their gratitude of safe and return, at the same time they were also praying to MaZu for the big catches. Therefore it regards MaZu faith as inseparable related to daily life of Macanese fishing. MaZuGe is where Macanese resident gather to celebrate festivals such as Spring Festival and ordinarily many believers has visited MaZuGe, so the incense fire was gone and on. MaZuGe is also the center of WuShenYanXi activity of Macao which amused the Gods; People of all social were attending this activity. Macao is the place of cultural cross and fusion between East and West, also the place of fusion of each local original Chinese culture. Particularly MaZu faith of Macao was strongly influenced by Buddhism, so they worshiped MaZu and the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy together and there was influenced by Christianity, they also worshiped the Blessed Mary. With China’s economic development, the social tendency of seeking material life create loss of moral, confusion in values, mental famine, decomposition and corruption and so on. In this social situation, many people who lost confidence to attend cutthroat social competition start to depend on supernatural power. Today this public consciousness is important factor of revitalization of the folk religion in China