當媽祖遇見聖母：澳門海神信仰的兩種體系及其互動

The geographical environment born towards the sea, as well as the unique social and cultural ecology of the confluence of China and the West have resulted in two distinctive Sea-god belief systems in Macao: one is the traditional Chinese Sea-god belief system with Mazu as the core, the other is the western Sea-god belief system with the Virgin Mary as the core. The two are not only self-contained, but also cross the cultural boundary and enter the other’s belief world. The two heterogeneous beliefs experienced friction and conflict, and then tried to make a dialogue and communication, and finally reached a coexistence of limited harmony and compatibility. This cultural landscape which is based on the mutual contact, integration and even new life of Chinese and Western cultures, is rich in identification significance and global value. It is not only an important part of Chinese marine culture and world marine culture, but also an important part of Chinese religious belief and world religious belief. By observing the two Sea-god belief systems, the profound connotation of the “Macao Model” where Chinese and Western cultures interact with each other can be further explained.