论妈祖信仰与海商精神

MazuBelief and Spirit of Sea Merchants

妈祖信仰属于民间信仰,其信仰来自妈祖传说故事,民众受到海神妈祖的生平传说和各种传奇神话的熏染,又受儒、佛、道有关的宗教性故事的影响,因而对妈祖产生特殊的尊奉。宋元明清至今皆重视妈祖。妈祖信仰与社会生活有着密切的契合和依存;加上海上商人的推展,于是妈祖从福建莆田传播至台湾与世界各地。妈祖保护海上航行的民众,与海洋关系密切;商人出海经商,祈求妈祖庇佑,并以商业精神和行为敬奉妈祖,故妈祖信仰与商业的关系紧密。大众尊崇妈祖慈悲救人的仁爱精神,怀抱济世济人的理想,形成无限广大的海洋精神;妈祖文化也展现商业精神,将经营商业的理念注入妈祖庙的管理,且推行各种文化活动,因而妈祖信仰逐渐推广。妈祖信仰影响人们的德行与文化涵养,而让人们拥有善良虔诚与创造生命价值的心。

Mazubelief isa folk belief which derives from Mazu legends.The public particularly worship and respect Mazu on account of edification by life legends and various legendary myths of God of Sea,as well as influence of the religious stories associated with Confucianism,Buddhism and Daoism.Great importance has been attached to Mazu since Song,Yuan,Ming and Qing Dynasty and belief of Mazu is strongly linked with and mutually dependent on social life;in addition,with the promotion of sea merchants,Mazu has been spread from Putian,Fujian Province to Taiwan and even to every corner of the world.Mazu guards the public on voyage and is closely related to the sea;the merchants would beg the blessings from Mazu before putting out to the sea and worship Mazu with commercial spirits and behaviors which accounts for the intimate relationship between belief of Mazu and business.The masses venerate the salvation compassion and great love of mind of Mazu and equip themselves with the ideal of benefiting and relieving mankind which promote to the formation of infinite spirit of sea;Muzu culture also presents the business spirits that injects the philosophy of business into the management of Mazu temples,carries out all kinds of cultural events which ensures the gradual promotion of belief of Mazu.The belief of Mazu exerts impacts on human virtues and cultural cultivation that equips people with the kindness,devoutness and heart of creating life values.