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China's Leaders Harness Folk Religion For Their Aims

In China, Mazu, a folk goddess of the sea, has an estimated 160 million followers and 4,000 temples devoted to her. Here, a statue of Mazu from a village temple is paraded around Meizhou Island in southern China's Fujian province during recent birthday celebrations.
In China, Mazu, a folk goddess of the sea, has an estimated 160 million followers and 4,000 temples devoted to her. Here, a statue of Mazu from a village temple is paraded around Meizhou Island in southern China's Fujian province during recent birthday celebrations.

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