Mazu Across the Strait: Faith, Fujian, and the Fractured Ties Binding Taiwan and China

Religion as Soft Power in an Era of Strategic Entanglement and Civilizational Ambition

In the bustling temples of Taiwan and the restored shrines of Fujian’s Meizhou Island, the sea goddess Mazu — born as the mortal Lin Mo in the 10th century — embodies a living bridge across one of the world’s most volatile geopolitical divides. For centuries, Mazu has protected sailors and fishermen, her worship spreading with Fujianese migrants who shaped Taiwan’s Han population, language, customs, and temple traditions. Today, this shared heritage intersects with Xi Jinping’s vision of cross-strait “integrated development,” deeply rooted in his formative 17 years serving in Fujian, including roles in Xiamen, Ningde, and Fuzhou. Yet the story is profoundly nuanced and multi-faceted: while economic interdependence exploded since the late 1970s through dedicated investment zones, Taiwanese capital inflows, and supply chain integration — particularly in semiconductors — Taiwanese political identity has crystallized around de facto autonomy and democratic self-government. Trade shares with mainland China and Hong Kong peaked near 43.9% in 2020 before declining to about 26.6% in 2025 amid diversification efforts, yet absolute export volumes surged to around US$170 billion, far exceeding 2000 levels of US$35–40 billion.

Cultural and religious exchanges have intensified dramatically, with grand pilgrimages, temple networks, and festivals fostering greater familiarity and social connections. Mainland China revived Mazu sites post-1978 as tourism and heritage hubs, while policies like the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone (2004), Pilot Free Trade Zone (2015), and national “31 Measures” (2018) extended Fujian models. However, many in Taiwan view these as separate from Beijing’s political overtures, worrying about “soft unification” via United Front tactics. Contradictions abound: economic gravity and civilizational narratives pull while democratization, generational shifts, demographic aging, and strategic vulnerabilities push toward caution and status quo preferences. Xi’s emphasis on familial and heritage ties contrasts sharply with Taiwanese insistence that shared faith and ancestry do not imply shared sovereignty. This asynchronous layering — strengthened cultural overlap alongside divergent political trajectories, partial diversification within deep entanglement — defines the complex reality across the Taiwan Strait, challenging simplistic assumptions about economic convergence leading to political unity.

Waves of the Eternal Mother

Across foaming straits where ancestors sailed,

Mazu whispers unity in temple flame and ancient rite.

Yet hearts chart courses freedom cannot tame, defiant in the light.

The Enduring Legacy of Mazu and Deep Fujian-Taiwan Cultural Roots

Mazu, deified after her legendary life as Lin Mo on Fujian’s Meizhou Island around the 10th century, evolved into a potent symbol of maritime protection, communal resilience, and identity for coastal Chinese communities. Migrants from southern Fujian — especially Minnan/Hokkien-speaking regions — carried her worship to Taiwan over centuries, where it blossomed into one of the island’s most vibrant religious traditions. Taiwan today hosts thousands of Mazu temples and some of the world’s largest festivals, serving not merely as religious sites but as anchors for local identity, social welfare networks, community organization, and cultural preservation. These practices reflect profound historical ties: shared Hokkien language, cuisine, ancestor veneration, temple customs, and migration patterns that formed the core of Taiwan’s Han demographic foundation.

In Taiwan, many devotees frame Mazu devotion purely as a source of spiritual solace, personal protection, and localized belonging rather than a vector for nationalism. Mainland restoration of Mazu sites after Deng Xiaoping’s reforms turned them into tourism draws and diplomatic assets, with cross-strait pilgrimages and ritual exchanges growing denser and more institutionalized. Compared to 2000, Mazu religion has strengthened significantly, temple networks have become more interconnected, and ritual familiarity across the strait has increased markedly. Yet this does not automatically translate into political alignment. As sociologist Ming-sho Ho has warned, the informal nature of many temples and limited financial transparency opens pathways for potential external influence.

Religion and politics scholar Chang Kuei-min at National Taiwan University explains the dynamic: “Beijing has used religious lineages to uphold the unification narrative. ‘Homecoming’ and ‘both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family’ are central themes in cross-strait religious exchange events.” Folk religion expert Wen Tsung-han adds, “On a basic level China is using Mazu’s maternal figure to attract the Taiwanese. You identify with your mother, you identify with Mazu. You identify with Mazu, you’ll then identify with China.” Taiwanese temple leaders like Cheng Ming-kun of the Taiwan Mazu Fellowship counter that exchanges promote peace: “We need to increase exchanges so that we don’t walk towards a war… Mazu is a peace goddess for both Taiwan and China… We are like brothers, with more exchanges you will have less tensions.”

Xi Jinping’s Fujian Experience and the Evolution of Civilizational Integration Strategy

Xi Jinping’s extensive tenure in Fujian — approximately 17 years across various leadership roles — profoundly shaped his Taiwan policy, transforming the province into a laboratory for economic, social, and cultural integration. During this period, Xi advanced Taiwan-focused investment zones (such as Mawei, Haicang, Xinglin, and Jimei), supported the “Mini Three Links” with Kinmen and Matsu, and emphasized mechanisms for Taiwanese business support and settlement. He reportedly allocated funds for Meizhou Mazu sites specifically to attract Taiwanese visitors, viewing cultural symbols as emotional bridges.

This built upon post-Deng shifts from military confrontation to economic interdependence starting in the late 1970s, accelerating after Taiwan’s 1987 opening to family visits. By the 1990s, Fujian had approved thousands of Taiwanese enterprises with billions in investment. Under Xi nationally, language evolved from mere “exchange” (交流) to “integrated development” (融合发展), with Fujian positioned as a demonstration zone via policies like the 2023 guidance supporting cross-strait fusion in economy, society, youth, culture, and folk beliefs. Mazu symbolizes common ancestry, shared heritage, and non-military reunification pathways.

Policy analyst Chen from relevant studies notes, “Xi made many statements regarding work related to Taiwan from the historical perspective of achieving the peaceful reunification of the motherland… The innovative concepts and practical advancements… constitute an important source of his later significant discourse.” A Global Taiwan Institute perspective highlights Fujian’s role as the nexus for such development. Experts like those in The Economist observe that in 2011, Xi urged officials to “make full use” of Mazu to woo Taiwanese. United Front efforts explicitly aim to turn Mazu devotion into “patriotic unification force,” as local offices have stated.

Contradictions are evident: while Beijing promotes familial ties, Taiwanese authorities monitor temples for influence operations. Reuters reporting details how China wields Mazu as a “peace goddess” in elections, with Wen Tsung-han noting rural temples’ sway in local societies. Ku Ming-chun, sociologist at National Tsing Hua University, cautions that while temple leaders’ views matter less directly, exchanges can sow disinformation via pilgrim networks.

Economic Entanglement: Phases of Integration, Diversification, and Enduring Interdependence

Economic relations evolved in distinct phases. Phase 1 (late 1970s–1980s) opened doors via Deng’s reforms and Taiwan’s 1987 policy shift. Phase 2 (late 1980s–1990s) built gravity through special zones, attracting over 5,900 Taiwanese enterprises by 1999 with nearly US$8 billion invested. Phase 3 during Xi’s Fujian years layered social integration atop economics. Phase 4 nationalized this via broader incentives.

Trade data illustrates nuance: export share to mainland + HK fell from ~44% peak to ~26.6% in 2025, yet absolute volumes reached ~US$170 billion. Imports from China hover around 19–20%. Cumulative Taiwanese investment remains in hundreds of billions, with semiconductor supply chains exemplifying mutual dependence — Taiwanese chips and design feeding Chinese assembly for global markets. As one economist analyzing the data summarized, the shift is from concentration to “embedded interdependence.”

Frank Muyard, expert on Taiwanese identity and economics, has analyzed how cross-strait interaction coexists with distinct identity formation. Scott L. Kastner and others in integration studies highlight how economic ties did not produce expected political convergence. Diversification to ASEAN, US, India, and “China+1” strategies, accelerated by US policies, rising costs in China, and Taiwan’s upgrading, reflects reconfiguration rather than decoupling. Demographic aging on both sides — slowing labor forces and rising welfare pressures — favors stability, altering incentives for territorial or rapid integration. Relative power shifted dramatically, with China’s economy dwarfing Taiwan’s (from Taiwan’s 20–40% fraction in late 1980s to ~4–5% today), yet Taiwan retains tech leverage.

Naiteh Wu and other analysts note the paradox: economic success did not require political convergence, surprising 1990s assumptions. Taiwanese capital actively participated in China’s rise, embedding deeply while fostering separate institutional pride.

Identity, Politics, Status Quo, and the Separation of Culture from Sovereignty

Taiwan’s political sociology reveals status quo dominance, encompassing preferences for indefinite autonomy, risk avoidance, and pragmatic openness. Democratization in the 1980s-1990s, coinciding with economic opening, activated identity questions. Surveys show small minorities favoring immediate unification or independence, with the largest bloc preferring continuity. Michael Danielsen and others trace the road to a common Taiwanese identity amid these tensions.

Mazu exemplifies the divide: thriving as social anchors yet rarely dictating politics. Devotees insist faith transcends governments. Chang Kuei-min observes temples feeling misunderstood amid scrutiny. Hong Ying-fa, researcher at National Chengchi University, notes official lip service to Mazu as “Goddess of Peace.” Wu Kun-tsai, history professor at Chiayi University, emphasizes Mazu transcending affiliations: believers “come from all walks of life.”

Comparisons to 2000 show layers diverging: religious/social ties strengthened, economic scale exploded, yet political trust eroded and identity distinctified. Xi’s approach centralized cultural diplomacy, but many Taiwanese separate heritage from hegemony. As Frank Muyard articulates, national identity and economic interest compete without easy resolution. The generational shift — from those with direct mainland memory to those viewing China as a neighboring power — deepens this.

Contradictions, Demographics, Geopolitics, and Future Ambiguity

The nexus reveals multi-faceted contradictions: mutual benefits versus vulnerabilities; grassroots faith versus state narratives; aging societies incentivizing patience or urgency. US export controls and friend-shoring contributed to reconfiguration alongside Chinese cost rises and Taiwan’s evolution. Historians note defiance of modernization scripts where prosperity implied convergence. Instead, liberalization reinforced distinctions.

Demography matters profoundly: shrinking workforces and fiscal stresses on both sides raise integration costs. Time may favor ambiguity — coexistence with selective entanglement. Analysts like those in IISS observe Fujian’s long-game experimentation, including infrastructure links. The outcome favors pragmatic management over resolution, where Mazu crosses easily but political identities chart independent paths. Legitimacy debates pit historical continuity against present consent and democratic institutions.

Reflection

The intricate synthesis of Mazu’s spiritual legacy with Fujian-Taiwan relations under Xi Jinping’s integrated development framework unveils a deeply human drama of connection, ambition, and divergence. Decades of economic policies — from special zones and billions in investment to semiconductor interdependence — generated unprecedented efficiency and scale, benefiting global supply chains and millions while exposing strategic fragilities. Culturally, Mazu’s revival and cross-strait pilgrimages enriched identities and preserved heritage amid modernization, yet often served dual purposes as soft power. Politically, Taiwan’s democratization and identity evolution fostered resilience, prioritizing autonomy, prosperity, and status quo amid surveys showing preference for continuity. Contradictions define the landscape: deeper familiarity without convergence; diversification within entanglement; demographic aging favoring caution; relative power shifts alongside specialized leverage. US policies, Chinese adaptations, and Taiwanese agency created selective realignment rather than rupture. This reality tests wisdom in great-power competition, underscoring that shared symbols, family ties, and economic logic navigate straits more fluidly than formal politics. Future trajectories likely emphasize pragmatic coexistence, optionality, and minimized vulnerabilities, where faith and fortune persist across divides even as sovereignty debates endure. The sea goddess reminds us that human connections outlast geopolitical tempests, yet self-determination charts enduring courses.

In Mazu’s wake, empires dream of seamless one,

Yet tides of sovereign will carve shores forever free.

Ancestors call through mist, but living souls choose dawn —

Unity may whisper soft; true legitimacy bends the boundless sea.

References

• South China Morning Post on Mazu diplomacy and Xi’s Fujian role.

• Wikipedia and Global Taiwan Institute on relations and integration.

• Reuters, BBC, The Economist, and Le Monde on Mazu influence and expert views.

• Central Bank of ROC trade data and academic analyses (Muyard, Kastner, Chang Kuei-min, etc.).

• IISS reports on Fujian demonstration zone and policy evolution.

• Additional scholarly works on identity, economics, and cross-strait dynamics.