Tachia Matsu
​Pilgrimage Procession

大甲媽祖遶境

  • Temple: Tachia Jenna Lann Temple(大甲鎮瀾宮) Location: No.158, Shuntian Rd., Dajia Dist., Taichung City 437, Taiwan (R.O.C.)台中市大甲區順天路158號
  • Matsu’s birthday: March 23 of the Lunar Calendar
  • Date: March of the Lunar Calendar (The date is not regular. It is usually decided by temple’s president to cast the moon blocks in Lantern Festival. )(繞境的日子並不是固定的，通常在元宵節這天由大甲鎮瀾宮的董事長擲筊決定遶境的日期)
　　Matsu is also called “Queen of Heaven.” It is said that she was born in a fisherman’s family. When Matsu was born, she didn’t cry and was quiet. Therefore, her parents named her Lin Mo Niang means silence. She was smart and would not forget what she read. Besides, she was so kind that she always helped others. When she was thirteen years old, she met a priest who taught her magic arts and she got the tongfu at the age of sixteen. Then, she could fight with evils and remove them. At twenty-eight, her father went out to catch fish and encountered a disaster. Mo Niang rescued her father but she died in the process. Then, she became a goddess that always saves fishermen in disasters. Gradually, Matsu becomes a goddess worshipped in the coastal areas of China and Taiwan. She also becomes a protector of seafarers.
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　　媽祖又稱為天上聖母。據說，媽祖出生在一戶捕魚人家，當她出生後，她不哭也不啼的，所以她的父母親就將她命名為「林默娘」。從小她就非常的聰明，讀過的經書歷歷在目且可以背誦出來、喜歡幫助別人。在她十三歲的時候，遇見了一位道士傳授法術，十六歲時又得到一對神仙銅符，因此有了降妖除魔的能力。而在媽祖二十八歲時，她的父親出海捕魚遇到了船難，媽祖捨身救了她的父親一命。死後，媽祖變成了神，時常拯救遭遇海難的漁民，漸漸地，媽祖成為大陸沿海及台灣一帶人們普遍信仰的神，更成為航海人的守護神。

​　　Nowadays, Tachia Matsu Pilgrimage Procession is the most important religions belief and biggest festival in Taiwan. It is also listed as one of the top three religious events of the world by Discovery. The Festival always attracts many people to take the pilgrimage every year. The pilgrimage procession lasts nine days and more across over four counties. Every participant finishes the procession for two-hundred to three-hundred kilometers on foot. During the procession, residences should set up the table of offerings to worship. Moreover, they are kind to offer food or a place for pilgrims to take a rest. Along the precession, believers are eager to crawl under the palanquin and touch the top of the palanquin. In this way, people can get blessing from Matsu and get goodness.
　　現今，大甲媽祖遶境是台灣最重要的信仰及最盛大的慶典，更被Discovery列為世界三大宗教盛事之一，每年都吸引許多人朝聖。媽祖遶境天數長達九天，繞境領域橫跨四個縣，信徒皆以徒步完成全程兩百至三百公里的路。遶境過程中，家家戶戶都得在家門口擺放祭品、祭拜，並且熱心的提供食物、住宿給信徒們使用，沿途還會有民眾搶著鑽轎底、摸轎頂，為了祈求平安、得到媽祖的庇佑。
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  1. Having vegetarian food three days or a week before the procession to show sincerity. 
  2. When the procession starts, people must eat vegetarian food and eat meat diet is allowed only on the way back. 
  3. The participants’ clothing must be new when they attend the procession for the first time. It represents the respect to gods. 
  4. Use the pure incense to clean your body, including your belongings and the traffic tool before setting out.  
  5. No drinking , gambling, or sex is allowed during the procession. 
  6. Do not speak anything or nonsense when you see something on the road.   
  7.  After the procession sets out, it must not enter a house somebody dies or the room pregnant women stay. Besides, the participants’ clothing and belongings must not be touched by pregnant women or people who have a funeral.
  8. People who wear the gown as servants in the procession must not cover the gown with other clothing. Also, do not wear the gown into restroom.
  9. Do not pick any flowers, plants, fruits, etc. 
  10. People whose family members pass away cannot attend the procession. Moreover, do not use any stuff distributed in a funeral, such as clothes and towels. 
  11. Women who are pregnant must not crawl under the palanquin. Besides, one must not wear any amulet, including Matsu’s.   
                 
  1. 出發前三天或一個禮拜吃素，表示虔誠的心意。
  2. 去程吃素，回程才可開葷食。
  3. 第一次參加進香，全身衣物必須是新的，以示對眾神明尊重。
  4. 出發前，須先用「淨香」淨身，包括個人隨身行李、交通工具。
  5. 隨香期間禁酒、禁賭、禁色。
  6.  不論在路上看到什麼，都不能說出來、亂講話。
  7. 「起馬」以後立即不茹「葷食」開始吃「素」，而且不得進入喪家，也不能走進「月內房」，隨身衣物雜項亦不得被這兩種人觸摸。
  8. 為媽祖服務身穿「號褂」的人員，不能擅自將其他衣服加在「號褂」之上，也不能穿「號褂」如廁。
  9. 不能採青！(花草水果也算)
  10. 遇到親人過世或有喪事者，不可以參加隨香，也絕對不要帶、使用喪事所發的贈品，像是毛巾、衣服等。
  11. 懷孕的人不可以鑽轎底鑽;此外，轎底時身上不能配戴任何神明護身符，包括媽祖本身的護身符。
http://www.ntcu.edu.tw/edison/otm/__1.html
http://readygo.taiwantravelmap.com/?p=802
http://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/201603270146-1.aspx
http://blog.xuite.net/kuo707727632/twblog/156918633~+%E5%A4%A7%E7%94%B2%E5%AA%BD%E7%A5%96%E9%81%B6%E5%A2%83%E9%80%B2%E9%A6%99%E6%AD%B7%E5%8F%B2%E6%B2%BF%E9%9D%A9%E3%80%81%E9%99%A3%E9%A0%AD%E3%80%81%E5%85%B8%E7%A6%AE%E3%80%81%E7%A6%81%E5%BF%8C%E7%9A%84%E4%BB%8B%E7%B4%B9~
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