Top 3 Winning Entries of the 2026 Baishatun Mazu Painting Competition to Be Displayed at County Office Corridor, Highlighting Family Bonds and Devotion to Faith

The results of the '2026 Baishatun Mazu Painting Competition,' jointly organized by the Miaoli County Government and Tongxiao's Baishatun Gongtian Temple, have been announced, with an awards ceremony held on the 20th. Deputy County Magistrate Lai Hsiang-ling and Temple Management Committee Secretary Lin Hsing-fu presented prize money and gifts. Winning works, including gold, silver, bronze, and honorable mentions, were displayed at the venue, showcasing young people’s perspectives on the Mazu faith through artistic expression. The top three creations will remain on display in the county office corridors for a period and will also be printed into practical desk calendars.

The annual foot pilgrimage to honor the Baishatun Mazu is a historically significant religious journey renowned for its miraculous occurrences, now recognized as one of Taiwan’s most iconic cultural and religious events. This year’s procession attracted over 463,000 participants, demonstrating the enduring power of Mazu worship across generations. The painting competition, launched last year, aims to capture fresh, youth-driven interpretations of this deep-rooted faith, encouraging participants to express Mazu’s compassionate protection through their artistic skills and creativity.

Co-hosted by the County Labor and Youth Development Office and Baishatun Gongtian Temple, this year marks the second edition of the competition. A total of 266 artists participated, divided into two categories: high school/vocational and youth. Awards included one gold, two silver, and three bronze prizes per category, along with honorable mentions and selections. A total of 84 individuals received awards, with prize amounts of NT$20,000, NT$10,000, NT$8,000, NT$1,000, and NT$600 respectively. In addition, Gongtian Temple provided commemorative gifts: gold winners received a miniature version of the Baishatun Mazu Pink Super Car palanquin, symbolizing honor and divine protection; silver winners received Mazu commemorative gold coins; all participants were gifted 'Yong-character' socks from Baishatun Mazu as souvenirs. (Complete list of winners and artwork files are available in the attachment.)

The awards ceremony was held in Conference Room A201 of the county government building. Attendees included Deputy County Magistrate Lai Hsiang-ling, Labor and Youth Development Director Wang Hao-chung, Gongtian Temple Management Committee Secretary Lin Hsing-fu, committee member Lo Wen-yang, judges Hsu Chu, Hsieh Wan-tung, and Wei Tsung-cheng, as well as several county councilors or their representatives, collectively celebrating this fusion of religion and art. The event opened with a fitting performance of 'Pink Super Car' by the National United University Rock Band.

Upon arrival, Deputy Magistrate Lai and other guests were immediately drawn to the displayed winning artworks. Winners and their families took photos to commemorate the moment. Learning that some winners traveled from distant counties like Keelung, Lai engaged them in conversation about their creative concepts and encouraged them to visit Miaoli’s scenic spots, promote its natural beauty, warm hospitality, and local cuisine.

Deputy Magistrate Lai expressed gratitude to the Gongtian Temple Management Committee for co-hosting what she described as a one-of-a-kind painting competition in Taiwan. She praised how young artists, through their skill and imagination, vividly convey the powerful image of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walking each year and the compassionate presence of Mazu. She emphasized that the competition carries dual significance—religious and artistic—and embodies deeper social and intergenerational values. Lai expressed hope that future editions will grow larger in scale and offer increased prize funding.

She added that the winning artworks would remain temporarily on display in the administrative corridors of the county office, allowing more people to appreciate these alternative visual representations of Mazu devotion and enrich the cultural atmosphere. She also suggested that while desk calendars are a great idea, producing daily wall calendars could make the artworks even more popular. Several county councilors present voiced support for allocating budget accordingly.

Three judges attended the ceremony, with Hsu Chu speaking on behalf of the panel. She noted that AI-assisted artworks often lack originality and emotional depth, potentially causing confusion if mixed with traditional hand-drawn entries. She also urged organizers to clearly communicate procedures for returning submitted artworks to participants.

In response, Deputy Magistrate Lai stated that the county government welcomes expert recommendations from the judging panel on whether and how to categorize AI-generated works separately. Regarding artwork return issues, she pledged immediate review and improvement to ensure future competitions run more smoothly, enabling participants to fully express the profound essence of Mazu faith.

Organizers highlighted that both gold-winning entries centered on the theme of family prayer—one depicting an elderly husband praying earnestly for his wife in a hospital bed, the other portraying a mother praying for her sick child. Though set in different family contexts, both pieces poignantly illustrate deep emotional bonds during times of illness, revealing how faith intertwines with familial love to provide warmth and strength. The heartfelt messages conveyed deeply moved viewers.