From 'Matsu' to 'Mazu': Mazu Circumambulation, Maritime Cultural Integration, and World Peace (Second Edition)《從「馬祖」到「媽祖」: 媽祖遶境、海洋文化整合與世界和平(第二版)》

Wang, Lawrence K. 王抗曝 (2026). From 'Matsu' to 'Mazu': Mazu Circumambulation, Maritime Cultural Integration, and World Peace (Second Edition)《從「馬祖」到「媽祖」: 媽祖遶境、海洋文化整合與世界和平(第二版)》. Evolutionary Progress in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, Lenox Institute Press, MA, USA. 161 pages, 8(10D). ....... ABSTRACT: 媽祖遶境是臺灣規模最大的宗教盛事之一。2009年,「媽祖信俗」(Mazu belief and customs)列入聯合國教科文組織《人類非物質文化遺產代表作名錄》。本研究探討媽祖遶境的歷史演變、組織架構、宗教意涵與神蹟敘事,並追溯其如何從福建地方性的海神信仰,發展為由世界多個國家與地區的廟宇及信眾共同傳承的跨國宗教文化體系。研究指出,媽祖信仰植根於「仁、義、勇、和」的核心價值,具有高度的跨文化適應力與融合性。歷史證據顯示,媽祖崇拜早在十四世紀即由福建傳入琉球王國,並透過海上貿易路線擴散至日本九州、東日本、朝鮮半島及整個東南亞。本研究第二版將原有三島倡議擴充為連結澎湖、金門、鼓浪嶼與馬祖列島的「四地海洋文化網絡」,並特別考察地名「馬祖」與女神「媽祖」之間的特殊關係。史料顯示,南、北竿舊稱竿塘;近代海圖逐漸使用「馬祖山」,1902年《福建沿海圖說》並明載「媽祖澳,因有媽祖廟而得名」。因此,其地名演變可合理概括為:媽祖廟、媽祖澳、馬祖島,最後擴展為馬祖列島。本文同時將這一可考的地名沿革,與媽祖靈身漂至南竿的珍貴地方傳說分別敘述,後者目前尚缺乏直接文獻證明。在尊重地方居民意願並履行法定審議程序的前提下,本文倡議將「馬祖列島」文化正名為「媽祖列島」,初期可採「媽祖(馬祖)列島」作為過渡名稱,使群島之名重新彰顯媽祖慈悲、護海、救難與和平的精神。本研究亦提出更長遠的構想:將年度遶境活動由臺灣擴展至中國沿海、東南亞(南洋)及太平洋區域,包括韓國、日本與琉球群島等已存在眾多媽祖廟宇的地區。若能邀請各地佛寺參與或獨立舉辦年度媽祖遶境,媽祖信仰將有機會發展為連結東亞與東南亞沿海社群的共同海洋文化遺產。研究並探討媽祖與觀音在神學上的相容性:兩者皆具慈悲特質,並同為海上行旅的守護者。透過比較宗教分析與國際媽祖慶典案例研究,本文提出具體建議,以推動媽祖遶境邁向全球性的海洋和平盛典。Mazu's circumambulation procession, known in Taiwan as raojing, is one of Taiwan's largest religious festivals. In 2009, Mazu belief and customs were inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This study examines the historical evolution, organizational structure, religious significance, and miraculous narratives of Mazu's procession, tracing its transformation from a localized Fujianese sea-goddess cult into a transnational faith sustained by temples and devotees across many countries and regions. The research argues that Mazu belief, rooted in the core values of benevolence, justice, courage, and peace, possesses an inherent capacity for cross cultural adaptation and syncretism. Historical evidence shows that Mazu worship spread from Fujian to the Ryukyu Kingdom as early as the fourteenth century, reaching Kyushu, eastern Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and Southeast Asia through maritime trade routes. This second edition expands the original tri-island proposal into a four-site maritime cultural network linking Penghu (Pescadores), Kinmen (Quemoy), Gulangyu (Kulangsu), and the Matsu Islands. It examines the relationship between the place-name Matsu (馬祖) and the goddess Mazu (媽祖). Nangan and Beigan were formerly known as the Gantang islands; later charts used 'Matsu shan,' and a 1902 coastal gazetteer stated that Mazu Cove was named for its Mazu temple. Distinguishing this record from the historically unverified local legend that Mazu's body drifted to Nangan, the study proposes—subject to local consultation and statutory review—the cultural renaming of the Matsu Islands as the Mazu Islands, initially as 'Mazu (Matsu) Islands.' Looking further ahead, the study proposes expanding the annual circumambulation to coastal China, Southeast Asia (Nanyang), and the Pacific region—including Korea, Japan, and the Ryukyu Islands—where numerous Mazu temples already exist. By inviting Buddhist temples across these regions to participate in or independently host annual Mazu processions, the faith may evolve into a shared maritime cultural heritage uniting coastal communities across East and Southeast Asia. The research also explores theological compatibility between Mazu and Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara), both embodiments of compassion and protectors of seafarers. Through comparative religious analysis and case studies of international Mazu festivals, this paper offers actionable recommendations for transforming Mazu's circumambulation into a global maritime peace festival. KEYWORDS: Mazu Circumambulation; Mazu Belief; Circumambulation Procession; Maritime Cultural Heritage; Cross-Strait Cultural Exchange; Comparative Religion; Guanyin–Mazu Syncretism; Transnational Pilgrimage; Poetry; Kinmen (Quemoy), Penghu (Pescadores), and Gulangyu (Kulangsu); Matsu Islands; Mazu Islands; Toponymy; Cultural Renaming; World Peace