Part III The social and cultural development of Meizhou Island
3.1 The geographical conditions of Mazu belief
Mazu's hometown is located in Meizhou Island, belongs to Putian City, Fujian Province. Meizhou Island is the second-largest island in Putian City, it is 42 kilometres from the center of Putian City, and only 1.82 nautical miles away from the mainland. Meizhou Island is in the middle of the west coast of Taiwan Strait, which is 72 nautical miles away from Taichung port of Taiwan Province. In the north of Meizhou Island is Meizhou Bay port, it is one of the four major international transit ports in China, which is determined by the Ministry of communications. It is about 9.6 kilometers long from north to south and 1.3 kilometers wide from east to west. Meizhou
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Island is longitudinally long and narrow from north to south. The central part of Meizhou Island is plain and shaped like an eyebrow, so it is called Meizhou.
Figure 12 Meizhou Island National Tourism Resort of Fujian Province. This is the
birthplace of Mazu culture and the core area of human intangible cultural heritage
‘Mazu belief’.
Source:
https://ss2.bdstatic.com/70cFvnSh_Q1YnxGkpoWK1HF6hhy/it/u=3089282630,1819 365484&fm=26&gp=0.jpg, 2016
Meizhou Island has a land area of 14.35 square kilometers, with a population of 42,000. The coastline is 30.4 kilometers, it has more than 30 big and small islands, including reefs. Meizhou Island is known as ‘Nanguo Penglai’70. There are more than
70 Penglai is a fairy island in the outside of the east sea in Chinese pre-Qin myths and legends, surrounded by a fantastic sea. Nanguo Penglai means the Penglai is located in
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30 scenic spots, such as the exciting ‘Meiyuchaoyin’71, ‘golden beach of Jiubaolan’72,
‘Eastern Hawaii’73 and so on. There also has the ancestral temple of Mazu, with more than 300 million believers. Every year, during the birthday of Mazu on 23rd March and the sacrifice day of Mazu on 9th September, the pilgrimage and tourism are unprecedented, which is known as ‘Oriental Mecca’74.(W Zhengfeng, 2018)
Meizhou Island has a typical subtropical maritime monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 21 degrees centigrade and an average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm. The climate is mild, the scenery is beautiful, it is an ideal resort.
Meizhou Island is the origin place of Mazu culture. In 1988, it was developed as a tourism economic zone of Fujian Province. In 1992, Meizhou Island was approved as a national tourist resort by the State Council.
the south of China.
71 Meiyuchaoyin is one of the twenty-four scenic spots of Meizhou Island. The sound of the waves on Meizhou Island can be heard clearly at this place.
72 It is located in the most prominent place in the southwest of Meizhou Island, its shape likes a crescent moon hanging on the blue sea. It is the longest, largest and most charming beach on Meizhou island.
73 Hawaii is a world-famous tourist destination; it is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. People call Meizhou Island as the Hawaii of the East, so as to describe its beautiful scenery.
74 Mecca is the most important holy place in Islam, it is well-known as the "religious capital".
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Figure 13 The environment of Meizhou Island
Source: https://image.baidu.com/search/detail?ct=503316480&z, 2016
Meizhou Island is a tourist and summer resort integrating religious holy land, natural scenery, cultural landscape and exchanges with Taiwan. Mazu temple on the island, with thousands of believers, is the ancestor of more than 10000 Mazu temples in more than 40 countries and regions in the world. It is known as ‘Oriental Mecca’
overseas. Meizhou Island is surrounded by sea on all sides, and many seas eroded rocks have been baptized by years in various forms, strange and lifelike, the golden sand beach is flat, clean, it is cool in summer and warm in winter, and has a pleasant climate.
The unique geographical location creates an attractive natural landscape, which makes the tourists linger on and have an endless aftertaste. Meizhou Island is a good place for leisure and vacation tourism. The broad and profound connotation of Mazu culture, the world's great reputation, and the gorgeous natural scenery have laid a firm foundation for economic development.
Meizhou Island lies in front of Meizhou Bay. Meizhou Bay is located in the middle area of the Fujian coast. It is an important maritime traffic center in Southeast China, and it is a must place for ships. Meizhou Bay is surrounded by low hills and red soil platforms, which are composed of granite and volcanic rocks, and the erosion is not very strong. There are not many rivers in this area, and the sediment from the surface through river caves is very less, the harbor is wide, so it is not silted all the year-round.
In addition, it is located in Fujian Province where the marine climate is the most obvious, and it is also one of the most areas which are seriously affected by the typhoon in China.
As a result, under the influence of typhoons, the area around Meizhou Bay often has the weather of big wind and precipitation, which causes the sea to be rough and huge waves, which may bring disaster to the passing ships. “Meizhou Bay is surrounded by hills in the east, west and north. The port's front is open to the southeast.
There are three natural barriers in the bay. The first one is Meizhou Island, which lies
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across the port's mouth, the second one is Pan Island75, Renzhu Island76 and Xiaozhu Island77, the third one is Luo Island78, Heng Island79 and Yang Island80. These form a natural harbor. Even if there are waves outside, but the harbor is still calm. The natural and geographical conditions of Meizhou Bay are very superior.” (G Hong, 1997: pp 34)
Figure 14 The location of Meizhou Island in Fujian Province Source: https://image.baidu.com/search/detail?ct=503316480&z, 2016
Mazu, who is a common fisherman's girl, although is familiar with the nature of the sea and the astronomical phenomena, only her subjective factors are not able to eliminate danger for ships in distress again and again in big winds and huge waves.
That is due to the unique geographical environment of Meizhou Bay. Whenever the weather changes, especially when a typhoon comes, she sails out to the sea, and shouts
75 The name of the island, a small island belonging to Putian City.
76 The name of the island, a small island belonging to Putian City.
77 The name of the island, a small island belonging to Putian City.
78 The name of the island, a small island belonging to Putian City.
79 The name of the island, a small island belonging to Putian City.
80 The name of the island, a small island belonging to Putian City.
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loudly to remind others. At night, the torch is held high to guide the passing ships and guide them to sail to the inner harbor, to avoid the wind and waves. The people sailed in the direction that Mazu had pointed out at a critical juncture. As a result, the wind and waves gradually calmed down, the distress and danger were suddenly relieved.
Many fishermen on the sea have experienced this situation. Over time, Mazu's images with the ideal expression of working people have formed, and Mazu's legends also spread widely.