China: Follow-up to CHN26563.E of 30 April 1997 and CHN25000.E of 17 September 1996 on the status and treatment of Mazu followers, especially after July 1999
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 15 May 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CHN41527.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, China: Follow-up to CHN26563.E of 30 April 1997 and CHN25000.E of 17 September 1996 on the status and treatment of Mazu followers, especially after July 1999, 15 May 2003, CHN41527.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d707.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the People's Daily, Mazu the sea goddess is worshipped by millions of people in China, Taiwan and around the world (25 July 2000). The Chinese government, along with private investors, are reportedly contributing approximately US$600 million to create an "Oriental Mecca" on Meizhou Island where the original Mazu temple stands (People's Daily 25 July 2000).
In 2002, Beijing's China International Science and Technology Exhibition Center hosted an art show dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu entitled "The Culture of the Mazu Goddess and the Traditional Virtues of the Chinese People" (China Daily 28 Oct. 2002). Mazu has "become one of the symbols of the Chinese nation," states the article (ibid.). For further information about the exhibition and the historical and cultural context of Mazu, please refer to the attached article.
Several news reports since July 1999 discuss the cultural link between mainland China and Taiwan and the importance of direct cross-strait exchanges, especially for the Mazu worshippers who make pilgrimages to temples in China (Xinhua 14 Mar. 2003; China Daily 11 Mar. 2003; Taipei Times 8 July 2000). Yan Yanling, a Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference member from Macao Special Administrative Region stated to the Xinhua news agency that he "hopes that the Taiwan authorities will open up direct travel across the Strait as soon as possible, and not allow the Strait to become an artificial barrier for Taiwanese believers who want to venerate Mazu (14 Mar. 2003).
A professor of anthropology, who has written extensively on the Mazu cult, stated that during the cultural revolution followers of Mazu were viewed by the Chinese government as superstitious and that many Mazu temples were destroyed during that time (13 May 2003). However, today the government is facilitating the cultural ties between Mazu followers in China and Taiwan as part of their "one China" strategy (ibid.).
No reports on the treatment of Mazu followers since July 1999 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Moreover, a political science professor and former counsellor with the Canadian Embassy, in Beijing, who visited Mazu temples in Qingdao city, Shangdong Province and Fujian Province, had not heard any reports of members of the Mazu faith being suppressed in China (12 May 2003).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
China Daily. 11 March 2003. "Bridge Straits With 'Direct Links'." (Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire/NEXIS).
_____. 28 October 2002. "Art Show Extols Goddess Mazu." People's Daily [Beijing]. 25 July 2000. "China to Build 'Oriental Mecca'." Professor of anthropology, Florida State University, Tallahassee. 13 May 2003. Telephone interview.
Professor of political science, Brock University, St. Catherines, and former political counsellor with the Canadian Embassy in Beijing. 12 May 2003. Correspondence.
Taipei Times. 8 July 2000. Lin Chieh-yu. "Chen Makes Appeal to Matsu Followers." Xinhua [Beijing, in Chinese]. 14 March 2003. "Chinese Congress Calls on Taiwan to Allow Three Direct Cross-Strait Links." (BBC Monitoring/NEXIS).
Attachment
China Daily. 28 October 2002. "Art Show Extols Goddess Mazu." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
LEXIS/NEXIS
The New York office of Human Rights in China did not have any information on this topic.
Internet sites, including:
Amnesty International
Center for Religious Freedom
China.org
China's Human Rights
Human Rights in China
International Association for Religious Freedom