tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post8800186099682122329..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Matsu, Goddess of AnnexationMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-52697435777491285722014-04-29T14:15:21.727+08:002014-04-29T14:15:21.727+08:00To make it fair to atheists, they should also put ...To make it fair to atheists, they should also put up a big statue of...nothing! <br /><br />Or how about the World's Largest Muhammad Statue? I bet that would attract some international attention.<br /><br />Here's hoping that their Matsu will be done in that cute, mangified Hello Kitty style!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-46693315289641108882014-04-27T16:52:09.307+08:002014-04-27T16:52:09.307+08:00It's totally relevant that the largest religio...It's totally relevant that the largest religious festival on the island is run by KMT-linked gangsters with a pro-annexation agenda and strong links to Beijing. You'd have to be living in a fantasy world to imagine otherwise.<br /><br />You can attend the festival and give money to gangsters in support of Beijing's goals, and I will continue to point out and describe its crucial political functions. We'll both be happier that way.<br /><br /><br /><br />Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-63843994716554907852014-04-27T10:45:37.987+08:002014-04-27T10:45:37.987+08:004:46 anon, who runs the festival and why?
That...<b>4:46 anon, who runs the festival and why?</b><br /><br />That's like saying who runs the Kumbh Mela or the Hajj. It's irrelevant. Someone has to organize things but it's a religious and cultural festival that is much, much bigger than any agendas that anyone may have. It's a great advertisement to the world about Taiwan's vibrant culture and deserves all the support it can get.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-32434218504981132952014-04-26T18:35:15.601+08:002014-04-26T18:35:15.601+08:004:46 anon, who runs the festival and why?4:46 anon, who runs the festival and why?Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-77725578139520408402014-04-26T16:46:45.642+08:002014-04-26T16:46:45.642+08:00The Dajia Mazu pilgrimage is the 3rd largest annua...The Dajia Mazu pilgrimage is the 3rd largest annual religious event in the world, yet it's not nearly as well known as some smaller ones in other countries. If this statue can bring more attention to it, then that can only be positive for Taiwan. Normally I'd say that government money shouldn't be involved in religious events but when something is up their in size and importance with the Hajj or Kumbh Mela or Holy Week at the Vatican, it's transcended the religious and become something that represents human culture, and thus the use of government money is proper. This will be a big boost for Taiwan and big boost for Taiwan's culture globally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-2670907954141627952014-04-26T13:46:47.879+08:002014-04-26T13:46:47.879+08:00Christian groups want to put a large cross there. ...Christian groups want to put a large cross there. Or a statue of some famous figure from Xian history. But apparently there is no Church-state separation, if construction companies and organized crime are making money....Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-6625279878198618922014-04-26T13:21:36.466+08:002014-04-26T13:21:36.466+08:00Does Taiwan have no laws pertaining to the separat...Does Taiwan have no laws pertaining to the separation of church and state? Is it legal for a city government to favor one religion (or cult thereof) by subsidizing a giant statue of its deity? Would it matter of it were a statue of Jesus?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-48691782506156089502014-04-25T09:27:55.945+08:002014-04-25T09:27:55.945+08:00Yen and his son will appreciate the way you clarif...Yen and his son will appreciate the way you clarify Yen's status as "politician/businessman/but not gangster, no siree Yen Ching-piao". Very sweet description of Yen indeed :Dposeidon206https://www.blogger.com/profile/06067768693055737854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-92192251091412791222014-04-25T08:35:57.541+08:002014-04-25T08:35:57.541+08:00It is interesting to note that over the past 20 ye...It is interesting to note that over the past 20 years, Taiwanese pilgrims have been going to China to officially sever ties with the "home temples" to relocate Mazu's home to Taiwan to shift the authenticity to Taiwan. <br /><br />About 10 years ago there was a schism at the Jenn Lan Temple, in which the religious focus of the temple was shifted to a second tier priority with tourism taking the lead as the primary function of the temple. It is probably no coincidence that this coincided with Yen Ching-biao's rise to prominence as Taiwan's underground president, where he could use the temple to mask his dubious business and political dealings. His deployment of the Mazu for these purposes has been increasing. I think this new project is another example of Mayor Hu's close cooperation with the organized crime figures in Taichung. <br /><br />This raises a very interesting aside. With Yen's ascendence, he has eclipsed the White Wolf in terms of his political and financial power (a role once coveted by the Wolf). It will be curious to see how the political axis of the underworld will shift in the near to medium term as rivals compete for power. Much like the Ming cosmology of the heavens, there seems to be a mirror of above and underground political worlds taking shape. NONEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00312011183953017842noreply@blogger.com