Mazu: Taiwan’s Most Beloved Folk Deity and the Heart of Community Life

Mazu is today Taiwan’s most widespread folk deity, with scholars estimating that around 61% of Taiwan’s population, or roughly 14 million people, identify as her followers. A vast network of over 3,000 temples dedicated to Mazu can be found across the island, ranging from small, locally managed shrines to grand institutions like the Meizhou Mazu Temple in China and the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple in Taiwan, and are often located in the heart of communities. These temples act not only as centers for spiritual worship, but also as hubs for political, economic, and community life, a system known in Taiwan as “Religious Spheres” (祭祀圈, Jìsì quān).