2026-04-24

For a day, international students at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) stepped into the role of xiangdengjiao—pilgrims who accompany one of Taiwan’s most iconic religious events. Organized by NUK’s Language Center, faculty members led international students to Xingang, Chiayi County, Taiwan to participate in the annual Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, allowing them to experience the vibrant atmosphere of Taiwan’s “Mazu fever” during the third lunar month and gain firsthand insight into local religious traditions.

Chen Chih-Wen, Director of NUK’s Language Center, explained that Chinese language instructors carefully designed the program around one of Taiwan’s most representative cultural and religious traditions. By integrating language learning with field-based cultural experiences, the initiative aligns with broader trends in international higher education. Through direct participation in the pilgrimage, students were able to understand language use in authentic contexts while deepening their intercultural communication skills.

He emphasized that language learning should not be confined to classrooms. Instead, students should engage directly with cultural spaces where language, traditions, and lived experiences intersect.

A group of more than ten NUK faculty members and students traveled to Xingang, Chiayi County, Taiwan on April 20. Chinese language instructor Tsai Pei-Yin explained that the course was designed in two stages: first introducing students to cultural background and symbolic meanings, followed by direct observation and participation in the pilgrimage itself.

Instructor Wang Ching-Miao added that conversations with pilgrims and firsthand observation of religious practices helped students better understand Taiwanese society through a cultural lens.

The field-based learning experience began with visits to a local incense cultural park, where students participated in incense-making, incense appreciation, and scented sachet crafting activities. These experiences helped them understand the symbolic and emotional significance of incense in religious practices through sensory engagement.

In the afternoon, students entered the heart of the pilgrimage route in Xingang, Chiayi County, Taiwan, following pilgrims along the procession route and observing activities near Xingang Fengtian Temple. They also participated in the traditional ritual of passing beneath the sedan chair carrying Mazu—a practice believed to bring blessings.

Amid large crowds and powerful ritual energy, students became active participants rather than distant observers.

Vietnamese student Nguyen Cui-Ren described the experience as deeply moving:

“It was truly overwhelming. So many people moving together for the same belief is something rarely seen in my country.”

Indonesian student Susan also spoke with fellow pilgrims and learned that one participant had joined the pilgrimage to fulfill a promise made to Mazu after receiving answered prayers.

Through witnessing the cycle of making wishes, fulfilling promises, and expressing gratitude, students came to understand that Taiwanese folk religion is not simply symbolic ritual—it is deeply embedded in everyday life.

Many students shared that experiencing the pilgrimage firsthand offered a far deeper understanding of the cultural meanings behind language than classroom instruction alone.

In recent years, NUK’s Language Center has continuously expanded Chinese language education beyond traditional classroom settings. Previous programs have included dumpling-making activities to explore Lunar New Year traditions, as well as ecological field trips to Maolin District, where students learned about overwintering Purple Crow Butterfly populations, indigenous culture in Duona Village, and traditional aiyu jelly making.

These immersive programs continue to help international students build meaningful, culturally rich learning experiences during their time in Taiwan.

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