Mazu Pilgrimage

I started a photo project last spring documenting the Mazu Pilgrimage in Taiwan, which I’m hoping to finish on my next trip there. Mazu is a Taoist deity, goddess of the sea, a sort of patron saint of Taiwan. In honor of her birthday, tens of thousands of pilgrims walk hundreds of miles over a course of eight days visiting temples that have been erected in Mazu’s honor. Sometimes the pilgrimage will stop at a temple for only a few minutes, but if it’s a temple that is especially sacred to the Taoist faith, it will stop for the night. When this happens, the town becomes one big street party-dancing dragons, fireworks exploding in all directions, mysticism carried out in all its religious pomp.

Some followers of Taoism show their devotion to Mazu by performing the act of self-mutilation. Preparing for it in advance with fasting, meditation, and sometimes a bit of rice wine, the devotees impale rods through their flesh claiming that they feel no pain because the spirit of Mazu is protecting them. Such passionate devotees are few and far between, most people preferring to show their devotion by saying prayers and burning incense instead.

These photos were taken just outside of Chiayi in the south of Taiwan. I was able to make enough connections on this trip so that when I go back to Taiwan, I will be able to meet with some of the movers and shakers of this pilgrimage, which will allow me to do some more intimate portraits of the people and of the pilgrimage itself.