媽祖女神特質的建構與成型,在不同的時代和區域歷經千百年漫長的歲月,也包涵了很多層面的複雜意義。媽祖女神信仰是臺灣及中國閩南地區的重要信仰,歷代朝廷、政府也都藉這女神信仰來攏絡民心,特別是在歷經多方治理的臺灣歷史,更是明顯可見媽祖的影響力。本研究的目的,在探討大甲媽祖遶境活動中的女性身體,分析媽祖女神的身體自主權以及體現方式。研究方法採用文獻分析法及歷史研究法,探討父權社會下女性身體的變化、傳統觀念下的女性自主、女性在傳統社會中的從屬地位以及在宗教儀式中的女體展現。現已成為世界三大宗教盛典的大甲媽祖遶境活動,在女神信仰加上眾多女信徒的組成之下,對女神、女性的身體自主及參與是否仍存在著古老的男性霸權觀點,眾多女性在遶境活動中所扮演的角色,是否能因應性別平等的推行而有更平權的參與?媽祖女神地位雖不斷提升,卻仍是處在一個從屬的地位,明顯反映出女性從屬、私領域的角色;女性的身體自主權、公領域權力的爭取雖已較以往有大幅度提升,但在私領域的權力爭取及身體自主,卻仍有努力的空間。
After decades of variant generation and region, the forming characters of Ma Tsu goddess contains complicated meaning in multiple aspects. Ma Tsu goddess is one of important faith in Taiwan and the southern part of Fukien Province of China. All the past dynasties and governments utilized this faith to be a policy of controlling its people. The effect of Ma Tsu is obvious. The objective is to study the self-authority and performance of Ma Tsu goddess' body during the event of faithful pilgrims following Matsu through Tachia. Methods included historical approach and documental analysis to investigate several parts: the self-alteration of female body under patriarchal society, the traditional concehpt of self-controlled situation of female, The change of subordination of women in traditional society, circumstances of women body exhibited in the religious ceremony. The event of faithful pilgrims followingMatsu through Tachia has became one of the three big religious affairs, we wonder that if there any ancient male-dominant views still existed in the faith of Ma Tsu goddess which is composed mainly by female pilgrims, especially in the aspect of goddess, self-control of female and participation. Although the status of Ma Tsu goddess raise constantly, the female are still in a subordinate position and role. Even if there is significant success in self-controlled situation of female body and fight for right of public, it is still hard work to gaining right of personality and self-controlled situation of female body.