Taiwan’s longest-running costume drama program “Taiwanese Tales” has been on air for 23 years and is about to reach its 5,000th episode milestone with the release of “Sky Lantern Mazu.” Today, a premiere event was held, with lead actress Lin Jiajin taking on the role of “Mazu” for the first time. Her background is quite remarkable.
Lin Jiajin hails from one of Taiwan’s five major wealthy families, the descendants of the “Keelung Yan Family,” who built the Pingxi Railway, and she is also a board member of the Wan Hai Shipping Charity Foundation. Lin Jiajin mentioned that Pingxi is where her family’s ancestors originated, and the railway there was also constructed by her family.
In the past, “Taiwanese Tales” has produced nearly 40 episodes on legendary stories about Mazu. For the filming of “Sky Lantern Mazu,” the temple specifically designated Lin Jiajin to portray the role of Mazu.
This is Lin Jiajin’s first acting role, portraying Mazu. She noted that she may attract attention mainly because she has previously starred in Zhang Fengqi’s music video as Mazu, and the script this time was very considerate in keeping her lines short.
Being a long-time vegetarian, Lin Jiajin did not make any special preparations before filming. However, she felt a sense of unity with Mazu every time she completed her transformation. When asked if she was getting addicted to acting this time, she jokingly said that experiencing it once in a lifetime was enough for her.
Zhang Fengqi is also a regular performer in the drama, having appeared in over ten episodes in the past six years. This time, he plays the role of a disciple reincarnated under Mazu. Besides Zhang Fengqi’s participation in the show, his wife Li Liangjin, who was attracted by his “voice,” sings the song “Sky Lantern Mazu,” which will be broadcast in “Taiwanese Tales.”
The latest episode of “Taiwanese Tales,” “Sky Lantern Mazu,” features key actors such as Lin Jiajin, Zhang Fengqi, Yang Kaiqi, Wang Hao, and Ma Niu all attending the premiere event. Chen Xiaojing, one of the producers of “Taiwanese Tales,” was also present at the event, presenting flowers to Lin Jiajin.
Chen Xiaojing has appeared in as many as 93 episodes and was recently promoted to producer, having worked on a total of 47 episodes.
Over the years, “Taiwanese Tales” has visited temples of all sizes across Taiwan, interpreting over a hundred folk legends and nurturing many leading actors and actresses in Taiwanese dramas. Additionally, “Taiwanese Tales” has gained popularity among overseas Chinese in Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, and elsewhere. Its official YouTube channel has accumulated over 220 million views, serving as a significant promoter of Taiwanese folk culture.