Recently, I watched videos of the Zhanjiang Mazu worship rituals, and many people are asking: why do they keep tossing that crescent-shaped object repeatedly? Actually, this is called casting the Holy Cup, or casting the Jiao, which is essentially an ancient way for people to communicate with the gods.

This thing looks simple, but there are many nuances behind it. A pair of Jiao cups, one flat side and one convex side—how they land indicates different meanings. If both cups land with the flat side up, that’s the Holy Cup, meaning the gods agree, approve, and the matter can proceed. If both land with the convex side up, that’s a Laughing Cup, meaning the gods are still considering and more questions are needed. The worst is if both are convex or both are flat, which is the Yin Cup—simply put, it’s a no-go, a rejection.

You see, during important rituals performed by high priests, they often need to toss the Holy Cup three times to truly get the gods’ approval. That’s why, in the videos, when someone tries to replace the cup and keeps tossing without getting the Holy Cup result, the ceremony gets stuck. It’s not that someone is deliberately making things difficult; it’s just the folk customs—respect must be observed.

Thinking carefully, this system of casting the Holy Cup is actually quite interesting. It’s not superstition, but the most straightforward and sincere way for the common people in Minnan and western Guangdong to communicate with their faiths over hundreds of years. Every toss of the Jiao carries a person’s wish, backed by generations of belief. This reverence has long been ingrained in folk customs. Customs have roots, faith has boundaries, and with respect in the heart, one can truly understand the meaning behind these traditions.