The Chinese Communist Party has routinely used cultural folk elements such as the belief in deities such as Matsu for its “united front” work to propagate the idea that Taiwan belongs to China.

In a recent “united front” video, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army attempted to play the “Matsu card.”

Folk gods and goddesses are viewed differently in Taiwan and China. If these folk beliefs are to be seen as cultural assets, where is the culture most developed?

In ancient China, it was an emperor’s duty to worship heaven and earth. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, emperors called themselves “ministers of the mountains and rivers” to heaven, while ordinary people worshiped their own ancestors. From an ancient Chinese perspective, Taiwan has been so religious that if academics such as Han Yu (韓愈) and Ouyang Xiu (歐陽修) — who attached great importance to etiquette — came to Taiwan as officials, they would have done their best to put down the public’s folk beliefs.

The concept of “God bless Taiwan” has long been a part of Taiwanese daily life, but there has rarely been the concept of “God bless China” except in the case of the Boxer Rebellion during the late Qing Dynasty.

While Chinese folk culture originated in China, it has continued to develop in Taiwan, but which side is more important to such cultural assets?

Pearl milk tea, also known as “bubble tea,” is a common drink found in Taiwan, and its current version was developed in this nation.

However, milk tea originated from the Eurasian nomads. Does this mean that Taiwan, a milk-tea-loving nation, should be unified with Mongolia, Kazakhstan or other Eurasian countries?

Buddhism is also common in China. If China wanted to use Matsu as a “united front” tool against Taiwan, should India then use Buddha as a tool against China when another border dispute breaks out between them?

Jimway Chang

Kaohsiung