Fuding's First Tai Mu Niangniang Memorial Event: Savoring White Tea, Discussing Taoism, and Promoting Tai Mu Culture
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2012-08-24
On August 23, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month—the day when Lady Taibao ascended to immortality—Fuding City’s Taoist Association and Fujian Tianhu Tea Industry Co., Ltd. jointly hosted the grand "Fuding White Tea & the First Commemoration Ceremony for Lady Taibao," held solemnly in Fuding City to honor Lady Taibao, celebrate Fuding white tea, and promote the region’s Taoist culture associated with Mount Taibao.
Taishan Mountain earned its name after being bestowed titles by several emperors. Originally known as Caishan, the mountain gained its new moniker—Taomushan—when Emperor Yao, while traveling in the East Sea, found himself in peril. Legend has it that Taomu Niangniang guided him safely through the crisis. Deeply grateful for her kindness, Emperor Yao honored her as "Taomu," and consequently, Caishan was renamed Taomushan. Later, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty commissioned Dongfang Shuo to survey and rank China’s most renowned mountains. As a result, Taomushan was crowned the foremost among the famed Thirty-Six Mountains, officially earning its title as Taomushan. During the Five Dynasties period, Min King, the founding ancestor of Fujian, further elevated Taomushan’s spiritual status by proclaiming it the deity of the Western Peak. Today, Taishan Mountain remains a sacred haven for Taoists, Buddhists, Confucians, and adherents of Manichaeism, boasting remarkable sites from all four major religious traditions, along with countless historic landmarks steeped in legend and lore. It is said that Rongchengzi, the legendary founder of Taoism, once practiced alchemy here on Taishan Mountain. To this day, visitors can still glimpse the mystical Danjing—a stone well believed to be where he refined his elixirs.
Legend has it that the Goddess Tai Mu was a beautiful and kind-hearted woman who lived deep within Mount Tai Mu. Known for cultivating and crafting orchids in the mountains, she earned the nickname "Orchid Auntie." She was renowned for her generosity and compassion, often providing medicine and healing to those in need, deeply concerned about the well-being of the people. One year, when a measles epidemic struck the region around Mount Tai Mu, claiming the lives of many children, Orchid Auntie received guidance from the Immortal of the South Pole. Following his instructions, she discovered a unique tea plant near the Hongxue Cave on the mountain. By brewing tea leaves from this remarkable plant into a soothing decoction, she successfully quelled the measles outbreak. This legendary tea plant is none other than the now-famous "Lü Xue Ya," officially registered by Fujian Tianhu Tea Industry Co., Ltd., making it a celebrated brand worldwide. During the Republic of China era, Mr. Zhuo Jianzhou, referencing a quote from Zhou Lianggong in his work *Tai Mu Shan Quan Zhi • Fang Wu*, further elaborated: "Lü Xue Ya, known today as 'Bai Hao,' boasts an exquisite aroma and color—especially the variety grown in Hongxue Cave, which is considered the finest. With its cooling properties, it is said to possess medicinal benefits comparable to rhinoceros horn, earning it the title of a miraculous remedy for measles. It is even exported overseas at prices rivaling gold!" The Goddess Tai Mu, a timeless deity revered by descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors across the globe, stands as Fujian’s earliest and most cherished goddess—a living embodiment of kindness and benevolence.
Attending the "Fuding White Tea and the First Grand Ceremony in Honor of Goddess Taibao" were: Lan Chengfeng, Director of Fuding Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs; Lan Chengzhong, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC; Zheng Qingqing, Chairwoman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Lin Youxi, Chairman of Tianhu Tea Industry; Zheng Chuanyuan, Chairman of Zhengyuan Teaware & Tea Industry; Zhang Zhengku, Chairman of Southeast White Tea; along with representatives from Taiwan’s Taoist community and neighboring temples and shrines. The event featured activities such as a pilgrimage to Mount Taibao to pay homage and bring back the sacred incense of Goddess Taibao, a five-day, five-night prayer ceremony, a Taoist wellness seminar, the unveiling and consecration of the golden statue of Goddess Taibao, and culminated in a grand procession of the deity herself through the streets.
This event once again pays tribute to and commemorates the great goddess, marking a grand gathering within Fuding’s Taoist community. Through this occasion, a vibrant bridge is built for cross-strait Taoist cultural exchange. Indeed, this event has already left an indelible mark on the history of Taoism in Fuding—and it will undoubtedly play a vital role in advancing Tai Mu Shan’s rich Taoist heritage, boosting Fuding’s local economy, and promoting China’s time-honored traditional culture!
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