On October 24, in Beijing, former vice president of the Beijing Association for Taiwan, Zheng Da, shared his heartfelt story of returning to Taiwan to trace his roots. “I lost count of how many times I bowed that day, but I’m sure it was the most I’ve ever done in my life,” he remarked.
The occasion took place at the Taiwan Cultural Hall in Beijing during the Cross-Strait Ancestor Culture Forum, co-hosted by the Beijing Taiwan Affairs Office, the Beijing Taiwan Association, and Taiwan Strait Publishing House. Various guests engaged in discussions on the innovation and preservation of cross-strait ancestral culture.
Zheng’s family hails from Nan’an in Fujian, with ancestors migrating to Changhua, Taiwan during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2012, which marked the 350th anniversary of Zheng Chenggong reclaiming Taiwan, Zheng visited the Chenggong Temple in Changhua to seek out his family’s legacy. Dressed in traditional robes and with his hair tied up in a chignon, he participated solemnly in a local ritual. Although many details have faded from his memory, he vividly recalls the grand celebrations honoring the “Sage King of Taiwan.” “Behind that lies the patriotic and hometown-loving spirit of our Taiwanese compatriots, something that I firmly hold in my heart,” Zheng reflected.
Ancestral culture serves as a vital part of Chinese identity, reminding us of our shared bloodline, culture, and history across the strait. “The rituals are intricate and time-consuming,” said Hsiao Yung-ping, Honorary Chairman of the Hsiao Clan Association in Kinmen, as he described the elaborate procedures involved in the ancestral worship ceremonies at their clan temple, including offerings to the God of Literature and the Earth God. These ancestral rites primarily occur during the winter solstice and Qingming Festival, and they have come to symbolize the preservation of traditional culture in Kinmen.
Hsiao noted that the ancestral worship culture in Kinmen is rooted in the historical evolution of Minnan culture, with each of the 168 natural villages in Kinmen hosting its own temple where local expatriates continue to return regularly to honor their ancestors. This practice deepens his understanding of the importance of familial connections.
However, Hsiao expressed concern about the dwindling participation of young people in ancestral activities in Taiwan. “It’s undeniable that fewer young people are inclined to engage in ancestral activities today,” he said.
Regarding the future of ancestral culture, Li Zhengguang, Director of the Taiwan Research Institute at Beijing Union University, expressed a more optimistic view. “In modern society, the increasing mobility and weakened sense of regional belonging may influence younger people’s connection to ancestral culture, but I believe this is merely a temporary phase. In the future, these young people will likely develop a stronger sense of kinship,” he asserted. He emphasized that cross-strait interactions, sparked by the desire to trace one’s roots, would enhance mutual dependency, helping younger generations foster a healthy national identity and historical perspective, ultimately promoting integration between the two sides.
“Tracing one’s ancestry is not just about revisiting family history; it’s also about exploring cultural heritage and personal identity,” suggested Fu Delu, Dean of the Kaifeng Surname Culture Research Institute in Fujian. He proposed leveraging technology such as online platforms, virtual reality, and digital archiving to create a digital museum of surname culture across the strait, broadening the influence of clan, genealogy, and temple cultures.
Zheng observed that in recent years, many young people from Taiwan have traveled to the mainland to explore their roots, sharing their experiences online, which has attracted attention from netizens on both sides. He views this as a great opportunity to help the younger generation deepen their understanding of kinship and family identity, encouraging even more Taiwanese youth to visit the mainland, share their homecoming stories, and discuss their experiences.