Fuxi Worship Ceremony Marks 13th Year of Shared Cultural Heritage Across Taiwan Strait

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Over a hundred people gathered at the Xianse Temple in New Taipei City on Sunday to worship Fuxi, the mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation, in a ceremony that coincided with a parallel event in Tianshui, northwest China’s Gansu Province — the legendary birthplace of Fuxi.

This year marks the 13th consecutive year that communities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have simultaneously held worship ceremonies for the ancient figure, a tradition that began in 2014.

During Sunday’s event in Taiwan, representatives from various sectors observed traditional rites, bowing or prostrating before the sacred statue of Fuxi in accordance with ancient customs.

Chief ceremony officiant Lee Chien-lung, who also oversees the Xianse Temple, emphasized that Fuxi is revered as a spiritual origin by the entire Chinese nation. “The joint worship ceremonies demonstrate that both sides of the Strait share a common cultural heritage,” he said.

Lin Tien-jen, a former researcher at the Palace Museum in Taipei, said he felt “truly moved” to participate in the event and expressed hope that more such activities would be organized to promote peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait.

According to Chinese mythology, Fuxi is credited with creating the calendar, inventing the “Bagua” (Eight Trigrams), and teaching humanity the skills of hunting, fishing, and animal domestication.