Since permitting visits to mainland China, many temples have contended to host Matsu icons from the original Matsu Temple at Meichou, Fukien. Each statue brought over to Taiwan shows a demure, adolesent goddess, dressed in embroidered red, with delicate three-inch bound feet. That's completely different from the full-faced, majestic and graceful adult woman that is the Matsu familiar in Taiwan.
開放大陸探親以來，不少媽祖廟競相迎回湄洲媽祖分身供奉，那一尊尊面貌清秀、少女神態；身著紅繡袍、腳踩三寸金蓮的媽祖「娘」神像，完全異於大家熟悉的面頰豐潤、雍容寧謐的媽祖「婆」模樣。