The Construction Of Consanguinity In Immortal World And Geographic Association

The belief of Ru Yi niangniang is originated from Yu Shan islands in Xiang Shan district. In the oral narrative which is handed down from generation to generation, Ru Yi niangniang is the image of a nonlocal fisherman's daughter. Local people enshrine her because of her filial piety. In the official version, islanders salvaged the board which was float at the sea after Ru Yi jumped, and engraved as a statue. The board just like scarecrow which is used in Chaohun funeral ceremony to adsorb soul. This version is popular in male believers, but females said the object salvaged from the sea is a pair of three inch red shoes, not the board, not the board. The existence of two different versions is a reflection of different believers'social background.In the legend, Ru Yi niangniang is the litter sister of Ma Zu. This construction of consanguinity in immortal world, not only shown in the similar contents between legends of these two goddess, but also form a kind of attachment relationship between the Yu Shan island and inland areas of Xiang Shan. Simultaneously, the kinship represents that the inland areas of Xiang Shan is more advanced than Yu Shan island. With the developing of Ru Yi belief, the consanguinity in immortal world become an important link between Mainland China and Taiwan.The statue of Ru Yi was carried to Taiwan by islanders in 1955 when the guomingdang evacuated from the mainland. Because of the leave of believers and the statue, the belief of Ru yi on the Yu Shan island showing a gradual decline of the state. One year later, the government mobilized villagers in Shi Pu move into Yu Shan island. These new arrivals are familiar with Ru Yi niangniang, they let the belief re-emergence. In Taiwan, Ru Yi niangniang was also worshiped by emigrants in the traditional way, but also absorb other folk believes in local areas. Comparing with the belief in Yu Shan island, it involves the feature of immigrant and the characteristic of Taoism.From 1989, believers in Fu gang area launched the activity of ancestor worship. In 2007, September the 14th, on the basis of the affinity between Ru Yi and Ma Zu, Ru Yi was invited to tian hou temple which located in dong men. It is a starting point of Xing qin ceremony which across the strait between the two goddess, and also represents a beginning that folk custom is accepted by government.