When Faith Walks the Streets

The Beigang Mazu pilgrimage is one of the most deeply rooted expressions of religious and folk culture in Taiwan. Held once every fifteen years, this rare pilgrimage brings together generations of devotees in a collective journey of faith, devotion, and tradition. This eight-image series focuses on the people who take part in the pilgrimage—the palanquin bearers, devotees, ritual performers, and spirit mediums known as “Jitong.” Rather than documenting the procession as a spectacle, I was drawn to the emotions within it: the devotion in a believer’s eyes, the physical strength and exhaustion of those carrying the palanquin, the concentration of ritual performers, and the quiet moments of respect shown toward the divine. What I see in these moments is a distinctive expression of Taiwanese culture: a profound respect for faith that continues to exist alongside contemporary everyday life. Streets, buildings, traffic, and modern life become the setting for rituals passed down through generations, creating a striking coexistence between the present and the traditions of the past. For me, the pilgrimage is not simply a religious procession. It is a collective act of remembrance and devotion, where individuals temporarily become part of something larger than themselves. The gestures, faces, bodies, and emotions of the participants reveal how belief can be experienced not only as religion, but as a shared cultural identity. Through these photographs, I hope to preserve a glimpse of this rare moment and, more importantly, to capture the human respect, devotion, and emotional connection that keep this living tradition alive in Taiwan.