Matsu pilgrimage controversy in Taiwan
(Articles from the Taipei Times)
The "divining cups" referred to in the articles are moon-blocks, which in Mandarin are called shen-bei ("spirit cups"), and in Taiwanese dialect are called poe (pronounced "pway"). MAC is the Mainland Affairs Council. To read the Chinese characters (Big5) you need to run a program such as NJSTAR.
- April 7th, 2000:
Pilgrims seek direct China link
- April 16th, 2000:
Direct travel for Matsu followers will have to wait
- May 17th, 2000:
Incoming MAC chief says `small three links' a priority
- June 5th, 2000:
Pilgrims prepare for first direct sailing to mainland but MAC remains chilly
- June 6th, 2000:
Editorial: No to divine intervention now
- June 6th, 2000:
Editorial cartoon
- June 7th, 2000:
Lu says `no' to direct link for pilgrims
- June 8th, 2000:
Links not certain: MAC
- June 10th, 2000:
Keeping the church out of state decisions
- June 13th, 2000:
Legislators pass new `small three links' resolution
- June 15th, 2000:
Clear talk about direct links needed
- June 15th, 2000:
Yen Ching-piao: pious leader or crafty politician?
- June 15th, 2000:
The history of the man they call `stone pumpkin'
- June 16th, 2000:
Questions about divine instructions
- June 22nd, 2000:
China shifts course on Matsu visits
- June 22nd, 2000:
Editorial: Beijing sinks pilgrim voyage
- June 23rd, 2000:
Matsu direct pilgrimage adrift
- July 3rd, 2000:
Religion and politics must be kept separate
- July 8th, 2000:
Chen makes appeal to Matsu followers