For the Love of Matzu 全台瘋媽祖 偕伴遶境去

She is known and loved by millions in Asia and is called the patron saint of Taiwan. Matzu was once a real person who lived in China long ago. One day, she had a vision that her father and brother were caught in a storm at sea. Legend has it that Matzu magically went into a trance. While in this sleep-like state, her spirit went to save her family members. However, her mother saw her sleeping body and tried to wake her. When that happened, Matzu dropped her father, but luckily, she was still able to rescue her brother.
Today, Matzu is worshipped as a goddess of the sea and the protector of fishermen and sailors. Temples can be found in many fishing towns and on the coast of many Asian countries. Followers are very devoted to her because she is also said to be Guanyin who had come back to life.

她廣受眾多亞洲居民的認識與愛戴，並被尊稱為台灣的守護神。媽祖是很久以前出現在中國的真實人物。有一天，她心生異象，看到自己的父親和兄長在海上遭遇暴風雨。傳說媽祖竟不可思議地元神出竅。在入夢的狀態中，她的靈魂前去拯救她的家人。然而，她的母親看到她入睡的軀殼，便試圖叫醒她。就在此時，媽祖失手放掉了父親，但所幸還是成功救回了哥哥。
如今媽祖被視為護海的女神，以及漁夫和水手的守護者。許多漁村和亞洲國家的海岸邊都可看到供奉媽祖的廟宇。信眾對她非常虔誠，因為據說她還是觀音轉世。
The biggest event celebrating Matzu’s birthday is a nine-day pilgrimage made by believers. It begins at the Jenn Lann Temple, where the most beloved statue of Matzu sits. During the pilgrimage, the statue is put in a sedan chair and carried from Dajia in Taichung to Chiayi and back again. A lot of people try to touch it for good luck, and they even kneel down in a line to have Matzu bless them as the chair passes overhead. The pilgrimage attracts over one million people to Taiwan each year. They come from Japan, Korea, and Thailand, just to name a few.
The events honoring the goddess inspire people in many ways, and Matzu’s courage and dedication are examples everyone can be proud to follow.
媽祖誕辰慶典中最盛大的活動就是由信眾舉辦、為期九天的遶境儀式。遶境活動始於鎮瀾宮，當中奉祀的即是香火最為鼎盛的媽祖神尊。在遶境期間，這尊神像會被放入鑾轎中，從台中大甲一路扛到嘉義再折返。許多人為了祈求好運而努力碰觸神轎，他們甚至還會跪成一列讓神轎從頭上通過，藉此獲得媽祖的庇佑。遶境活動每年都會吸引百萬名以上的人潮湧進台灣。這些信徒來自日本、韓國及泰國等眾多國家。
這些敬奉媽祖的活動會多方鼓舞民眾，而媽祖的勇氣和奉獻的精神也是每個人都能引以為傲的仿效榜樣。
生活必備字詞

◎legend has it + that 子句　　傳說／據說……
Legend has it that Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor.
◎state (n.) 狀態，狀況
◎rescue (vt.( 拯救，救援
◎worship (vt.) 敬奉（神）；景仰
Kyle worshipped the famous director and dreamed of making his own movie one day.

媽祖小傳

相傳媽祖為福建省湄州人，媽祖出生時完全沒有哭鬧，因此取名默娘。默娘非常聰明，自小就知道拜佛，且常有莫名的感應。默娘終生未嫁，某日安詳莊穆地坐在椅子上辭世，當時她還不到三十歲，從此人們就常看到她顯靈的事蹟。人們原常尊稱她為「天后」或「天妃娘娘」，但泉、漳、潮州一帶的人則習慣稱她為媽祖，如此聽來較為親切且平易近人。