Before Mazu is deified, she is renowned for her kindness and help on people, such as saving marine disaster, easing drought, dispelling plague, guiding ships and etc. As her legends came down and gained in influence, she was continuously awarded honorary titles by emperors of past dynasties. Currently, the religion of Mazu has developed into a kind of culture covering extensive connotations. Mazu Culture has more than 200 million believers in the world. In Taiwan, 2/3 of Taiwanese are Mazu believers. Acting as the bridging tie across the Taiwan Strait, Mazu Culture has helped extend the exchanges between Mainland China and Taiwan, allowing numerous Taiwan compatriots to have a better understanding of their motherland and Fujian and deeper love of the blood relationship between both sides. |