Paying homage to ancestors at Chaotian Palace and offering incense to pray for blessings 2024/11/24 China Medical University Beigang Branch/Mazu Hospital
Chiu Xin Yu
China Medical University Beigang Hospital held a grand ceremony this morning (24th) to escort Mazu, the "doctor mother" enshrined in the hospital, back to her spiritual home Chaotian Palace. President Hong Mingqi and Dean Wu Xijin presided over the sedan chair, leading colleagues and students from the hospital to visit 500 people escorted the "doctor mother" in palanquins back to her spiritual home to pay homage to her ancestors. The student club "White Crane and Lion Array" also participated in the performance of auspicious lions to pray for the Beigang bypass event. The scene was solemn but lively, and the performance showed the unique style of the Beigang area's close integration of medical treatment and local religious culture.
The "Doctor's Mother" enshrined in China Medical University Beigang Hospital came from the Chaotian Temple in Beigang. Since the hospital’s construction began, she has been guarding the operations and the recovery of patients, blessing the success of the project and praying for safety. In order to express our gratitude to Mazu for her protection and to express drinking water and remembering its source, the hospital chooses an auspicious day every year to hold an event where "Doctor Mom" returns to Chaotangong's home to pay homage to her ancestors and offer incense and prayers. At the same time, we also pray for the safety and health of the hospital and the local community in the coming year.
On the morning of the 24th, in the Mazu Hall of China Medical University Beigang Hospital, a master was invited to chant sutras, read out blessings, and perform a grand worship ceremony. After that, the dean and the vice-dean respectfully welcomed the enshrined Mazu and the two generals Shunfeng Er and Clairvoyance onto the sedan chair. After the deities were seated, we held the sacred palanquin, and together with Vice President Feng Yiqing, Lin Rongsheng and other colleagues, they carried the sacred palanquin (Tianshui Mazu). Amid the sound of gongs and the sound of firecrackers, the palanquin set off from the hospital square, followed by the incense procession. Nearly 500 people, including the hospital’s staff members and their family members of the hospital, as well as faculty and students from the Beigang branch of our school, walked to Beigang Chaotian Temple to pay homage to their ancestors.
"Doctor Mom" returns to her spiritual home to pay homage to her ancestors, which is a major event in Beigang Town. Mazu's sedan chair passes through Beigang Street, the roundabout and the county roads and alleys. Along the way, there are bursts of drumming and chanting, and the atmosphere is lively. The believers clasp their hands in worship.
Welcoming the saint with a respectful expression, or setting off firecrackers, we happily marched towards Chaotian Temple along with the incense procession. All hospital’s staff members, faculty, and students who participated in the walk around the border to pray for blessings were full of joy to have the opportunity to meet her, even though they were sweating. Its prosperity. What’s special is that this event was attended by international students from China Medical University. When interviewed, they also shared that they found it very novel and interesting to be able to participate in this event and experience different local customs. They look forward to having the opportunity to join us in the future.
President Hong Mingqi, President Wu Xijin and the school supervisors were warmly received by Beigang Chaotian Palace Chairman Cai Yongde, Vice Chairman Wu Bingjun, Su Jianrong and other deacons. At the same time, they affirmed the efforts of China Medical University Beigang Hospital to deeply cultivate the local area. Not only does it provide high-quality medical services, the hospital also actively participates in local cultural activities and establishes close ties with the community to create a safe, happy and healthy home to local citizens.
"Doctor Mom" returned to her spiritual home where incense was flourishing to pay homage to her ancestors. She stopped at an auspicious time of noon and returned home happily. After the mage chanted sutras, read out blessings and performed a grand worship ceremony at the ancestral temple, "Tianshui Mazu" and the two generals passed through thousands of years. The incense burner was full of incense, and everyone started to drive back home.
Although the round trip distance of the incense team was about 6.5 kilometers and took more than 3 hours of walking, everyone felt honored to be able to participate in the Mazu circumambulation activity. Although the journey was difficult, "Tianshui Mazu" was seated in the Shenming Hall of the hospital at the originally scheduled auspicious time, and it worth it at the end.