Taoyuan Matsu statue attends baseball game, rides MRT

Taoyuan Matsu statue attends baseball game, rides MRT

2025-07-31

Ren Hai Temple in Taoyuan’s Zhongli District is celebrating its second centennial. To introduce Matsu culture to the younger generations, the temple for the first time joined with the Rakuten Monkeys baseball team, city government, and Taoyuan Metro to organize a “Matsu Day” at the Monkeys’ stadium. The unique combination of religion and sport made for an exciting day!

A large group gathers in front of Huanbei Station on the Taoyuan Airport MRT to carry a sedan chair down from a truck. This is the VIP passenger: a glittering golden statue of Matsu.

Matsu is greeted by the crowd as she is slowly carried from the van. After being secured to her chair by red ribbons, she’s ready to go. But she isn’t on her way to a procession. She’s going to watch a baseball game.

Wang Chieh-hsi
Ren Hai Temple chair
Zhongli Ren Hai Temple worked especially with the Taoyuan MRT and Rakuten stadium to put on this special baseball event. We would sincerely like to invite the golden Matsu to the baseball stadium for the people to pray at the foot of her sedan chair.

Weighing in at 40kg, this 76.5cm high and 55cm wide golden Matsu is rarely seen on public transport. She traveled by car from Ren Hai Temple to Huanbei Station, then moved to her brand-new sedan chair to ride the MRT to Taoyuan Sports Park Station. Making her way through both aboveground and underground levels, Matsu rode the elevator and MRT to reach the stadium. After arriving, she took her place on the mound for a different kind of opening pitch.

Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang, Ren Hai Temple chair Wang Chieh-hsi, and Taoyuan Rapid Transit Co general manager Chuang Ying-chen made the first pitch together as the golden Matsu observed from the mound. She was then brought to the plaza, where the Rakuten cheerleaders seized the opportunity to pass under her sedan chair.

Chu Chu
Rakuten Girl
This is a centuries-old tradition. I’m happy it’s the first time we’re holding this kind of ritual at our stadium.

Song
Rakuten Girl
I was just praying in earnest for everything to go well into the future.

Member of public
I’m trying out folk religion. I hope Matsu can bless the Monkeys to win today.

For Matsu to enjoy a game together with baseball fans not only sets a new precedent, but also adds an additional charm to Taiwan’s unique baseball culture.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Matsu #RakutenMonkeys #baseball #religion #temple #templeculture #Taoyuan

"媽祖日"仁海宮媽祖進場看棒球啦啦隊體驗鑽轎腳

2025-07-31

桃園市中壢仁海宮歡慶建宮200週年，為了讓媽祖文化更貼近年輕世代，首度跨界攜手樂天桃猿隊、市府民政局及桃捷公司，在樂天桃園棒球場舉辦「媽祖日」公益棒球活動，信仰與運動結合，熱鬧非凡。

機場捷運環北站前，好大陣仗，民眾合力將鑾轎抬下，原來貴客就是這位，金光閃閃的金媽祖。

媽祖在眾人迎請下，緩緩下車，綁上紅帶，準備出發，但這天不是遶境出巡，而是要來看球賽。

[[中壢仁海宮董事長王介禧]]
"中壢仁海宮特別跟桃園捷運公司，還有樂天棒球場結合這個棒球日的活動，(恭請)金身媽祖蒞臨棒球場廣場來給大家鑽轎底祈福。"

這尊高76.5公分、寬55公分、重達40公斤的「金媽祖」，難得體驗人間的交通轉運，由中壢仁海宮出發坐車至機場捷運環北站，再坐上嶄新鑾轎，轉乘機捷抵達體育園區站，雖然站體有高架與地下層，但媽祖全程搭電梯、坐捷運進場，隨後安座於棒球場中央，展現另類開球。

球場內，桃園市長張善政、中壢仁海宮董事長王介禧、桃捷公司總經理莊英震一同為比賽開球，「金媽祖」坐鎮球場，鑾座則是置放在廣場，樂天啦啦隊女孩抓緊機會體驗鑽轎腳底。

[[樂天女孩曲曲]]
"這是一個百年傳承活動，第一次放在我們球場，開心有這個鑽轎腳的儀式。"

[[樂天女孩宋宋]]
"我剛剛很認真的在祈求，希望未來都可以一切順利。"

[[民眾]]
"來體驗民俗信仰，希望媽祖保佑我們今天(樂天)可以獲勝。"

莊嚴金媽祖與球迷一同欣賞賽事，不僅開先例，信仰與運動跨界結合，更展現不一樣的棒球文化魅力。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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