Worshipping Matsu, learning Chinese on handsets

These are among the new services jointly launched yesterday by telecommunications service firm Vibo and Tsaotien (Toward Heaven) Matsu Temple in Shinkang of southwestern Chiayi County.

Through uniquely designed software, customers can pay their respects to Matsu, pick fortune texts, and throw the crescent-shaped wooden divining tools to seek good luck and answers from the deity.

Priests at the temple can send explanations about the fortune texts, which are written in an ancient style of Chinese literature for the worshippers.

Born as Lin Mu-niang, a daughter of a petty government official in Meizhou of China’s Fujian Province during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279), she was deified by emperors for her concern and care for seafarers on the coastal areas.

Matsu ranks as the most popular deity in Taiwan since all ships transporting immigrants from China to Taiwan carried her statue for safe and peaceful journeys through the treacherous Taiwan Strait.

The Matsu Cultural Festivals held by Matsu temples scattered throughout Taiwan are among the largest local religious activities every year,

Leading politicians frequently visit Matsu temples on the island in order to win the election ballots from the large number of her faithful followers.

In addition to the distant worshipping rituals, Vibo now provides Vietnamese workers and those married into local families to learn the Chinese language on the mobile phone.

Vibo executives said they plan to add new bilingual and mobile learning services covering Chinese and other Southeast Asian languages soon.

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