Vice President Annette Lu attended a religious ritual in the Tachia Chenlan Temple on March 29, celebrating Goddess Matsu's birthday and praying for Taiwan and its people.
The Tachia Chenlan Temple, located in Taichung, is known for its Matsu, a goddess widely believed in by the Taiwanese. Every year on Matsu's birthday, the Tachia Chenlan Temple conducted a grandiose parade, in which the statue of the goddess is carried to tour around the neighboring counties and cities.
"The event is significant in our civil religions," the vice president said and pointed out that the grass-root activity has attracted much international attention.
The vice president admired Matsu for her virtues of filial piety, compassion, bravery, and justice. Though the goddess' flesh and bone already perished thousands of years ago, "your reverence and devotion to Matsu are at the same time the reflection of your compassion, wisdom, and courage," the vice president said.
Therefore, the vice president encouraged that Matsu believers should revitalize the spirit of the immortal goddess, urging that "all the Taiwanese and our hearts be tender." While reminding the public of two natural disasters likely to happen this year: La Nina and avian flu, the vice president hoped that Taiwan's politicians could learn from Matsu's wisdom, be discreet with their speech, and maintain a harmonious relationship.
"Peace" is another feature of Matsu the vice president would always like to share. "Matsu was originally from the Chinese mainland; therefore, the Chinese leaders should also learn from Matsu's love for peace and stop threatening Taiwan with missiles," said the vice president.
Before the ritual ended, the vice president wished the event next year a greater success.