A plane ticket for a goddess: how the gods of China fly to Taiwan first class (5 photos)

Since the Chinese and Taiwanese are essentially the same Chinese, they have the same gods and the same beliefs. But what to do if many gods remained on the mainland after the division? Put them on a plane and send them to visit "island China" for a vacation.





Yes, such people will not travel in economy class...

And since they are gods, they are entitled to a first class ticket. Two statues of Matsu, or "Goddess of the Sea", were delivered from Xiamen to Taiwan on a regular plane along with other passengers. It was Xiamen Airlines flight MF881, they took off from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport in southeastern China to Taiwan. They were simply given a special boarding pass called "Lin Mo" to signify the cultural exchange between the "two Chinas". As if they were not luggage, but living travelers. Because it is safer to carry them strapped to their seats than to hand them over to cargo companies for loading. And the Chinese authorities have no illusions about this.



The flight attendants did everything to ensure that the gods flew back on their own airline!

Therefore, the desire to carry statues in the passenger seat, because they are “living deities,” is dictated not only by religious respect, but primarily by the fear that they will be broken! This is how videos appeared in which crew members carefully carry statues into the cabin. In addition, flight attendants checked the statues’ flight the entire way and asked them to enjoy the flight. And they even went through security before boarding, though out of turn. Deities, after all.

Who are these gods





A statue of the goddess near the sea - a protector

One of the statues is "Black-faced Mazu". She got her name because her face turned completely black when she used her powers to repel attacks and protect her hometown. The other statue had a soft pink face, symbolizing a warm and loving mother figure. Mazu was originally named "Lin Mo" and was born in 960 on Meizhou Island in eastern China. She was believed to be able to cure illnesses, predict the weather, and became the protector of fishermen and sailors.



Illustration in a children's book about the goddess Mazu

She died at the age of 28 while trying to save survivors from a shipwreck. Since then, she has been revered as a protector. In 2009, Mazu's beliefs and customs were included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, a first for China. Today, Mazu is worshiped in nearly 5,000 temples around the world, including more than 500 in Taiwan. Almost 70 percent of Taiwan's 17 million people are her followers. It makes sense that they want to see the "goddess in person."



Yes, the god has his own ticket. "Order must be!"

In 1997, the Mazu statue made its first trip from the mainland to Taiwan. But this year is special because this year they are bringing the largest statues in history, and the most valuable. Not a bad step from mainland China to Taiwan, because if they are divided, it does not mean that they are no longer one people. Culture unites.