Video: Who is Mazu the Chinese Sea Goddess? : Stories, Legends, Cultural Meanings, and Famous Temples

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Hi, Today I want to talk about Mazu aka Lin Moniang, who is a widely worshiped Goddess in Taiwan, Mainland China, and other Asian regions. Even though she’s super popular in East Asia, not a lot of people in the English-speaking world know about her. Most of the info about Mazu is in Chinese. Lucky for you, I speak Chinese, so I thought it’d be awesome to gather some cool facts about her and share them with you in English.

So, are you ready? Let’s dive in!

Mazu, also known as the Lin Moniang, is a revered deity in Chinese folk belief. The belief in Mazu has spread throughout the coastal regions of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, the Shandong Peninsula, and Tianjin. It has also been transmitted to Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, mainland Japan, Singapore, and beyond by immigrants from these areas.

Originally named Lin Moniang, Mazu is also known as the Heavenly holy Mother（天上聖母）, and by several other titles. Mazu’s story began in 960 AD on Meizhou Island, where she was born to the Lin family. From a young age, she was said to displayed supernatural abilities, leading a life devoted to spiritual practice. Renowned for her intelligence and taciturn nature, she was a practitioner of both Taoism and Buddhism who is said to have used her deep spiritual insights and powers to predict and influence the fortunes and misfortunes of sailors and fishermen, guiding them away from storms and leading them to safety.

Her ability to forecast weather and protect those at sea earned her the title of Sea Goddess, with countless temples and shrines dedicated to her worship, especially in coastal regions. After her death, Mazu is said to have ascended to heaven and become a goddess due to her acts of bravery and kindness. It’s said that she continued to protect sailors and fishermen, appearing to them in visions or dreams to guide them away from danger. There are even legends where she manifests in the tumultuous seas as a beautiful woman in red, calming storms and safeguarding sailors and fishermen.

This led to widespread veneration as a protective goddess of the sea. Mazu is perceived as a powerful and benevolent goddess, holding a significant place in the hearts of her followers. Her worship was officially recognized during the Song dynasty, with her temples becoming centers of religious activities. Mazu holds a place of special reverence in Taiwanese society, especially through the notable temples dedicated to her, such as Dajia Zhenlan Temple, Chaotian Temple in Beigang, and several others.

The Legends of Mazu

There are many legends associated with Mazu, which highlight her miraculous powers and benevolent acts, here are some of my favorites:

The Miraculous Rescue at Sea with Astral Projection

While Mazu still living as a mortal named Lin Moniang, in the year she turned 16, her father and brothers encountered a violent storm at sea during a trading journey.

While she was at home weaving, Lin Moniang sensed their distress. Instantly, she performed Astral Projection, soaring over the ocean to their rescue. She managed to hold onto her father with her arms, while gripping her brother’s belt in her mouth.

Meanwhile, back at home, her mother found Lin Moniang motionless beside the loom and, fearing the worst, began to cry out in despair. Lin Moniang quickly responded, waking up with tears in her eyes, and recounted the entire ordeal to her mother. Three days later, her father returned with the news that, while she successfully saved her father, her elder brother had tragically perished, exactly as Lin Moniang had described, leading the family to realize that Lin Moniang was extraordinary, possessing abilities beyond those of ordinary people.

Battle with the Demons ( who later became her guardian spirits)

There is a legend that once Mazu, saw a young and beautiful girl being carried in a sedan chair to be offered as a sacrificial offering to appease two powerful demons terrorizing a mountain village, demanding a beautiful girl as a sacrifice each year to cease their misdeeds.

Lin Moniang resolutely took the place of the girl and was carried forward to the sacrifice. The two demons, delighted by Lin Moniang’s beauty and grace, were overjoyed. However, she showed no fear and solemnly told them, “You must abandon your wicked ways and stop harming the people.” The two demons, considered her merely a mortal woman, paid no heed.

Lin Moniang, seeing that these demons were stubborn and unrepentant, deemed it necessary to teach them a lesson and challenge them to a battle. The demons, towering and as strong as oxen, immediately took up a fighting stance.

Unexpectedly, after only a few moves, they were all thwarted by Lin Moniang, whose power was superior. Realizing they were at a disadvantage and attempting to retreat, Lin Moniang pointed her finger toward the sky, and a gigantic rock weighing thousands of pounds flew down, hovering above the heads of the demons.

At this moment, the demons knelt and begged for mercy, willing to renounce their evil ways and follow Mazu forever, assisting her in her righteous deeds.

These two demons are now known as the guardian spirits Qianliyan(千里眼) and Shen Feng Er (順風耳) who assist Mazu. Qianliyan(千里眼) can see anything from thousands of miles away, his job is to watch over the world to see who needs help and report to Mazu. Shen Feng Er(順風耳) has the ability to hear sounds from great distances his job is to listen to the world’s cries and also report to Mazu. They combined their exceptional powers, with Qianliyan’s unparalleled vision and Shun Feng Er’s extraordinary hearing, to form a vigilant duo that serves Mazu, ensuring no call for help goes unnoticed and aiding in her mission to protect and assist those in peril, especially across the vastness of the seas.

The legend of “Bomb Catching Mazu”

This one is one of my favorites.

The legend of “Bomb Mazu” emerges from a period marked by the turmoil of World War II. During this time, Taiwan found itself under Japanese rule, a strategic outpost in the vast Pacific theatre of conflict. As a consequence of its occupation, the island became a target for American bombings aimed at crippling the Japanese military’s reach and resources.

Amidst this backdrop of war and destruction, where fear and uncertainty clouded daily life, the legend of Mazu catching a bomb transcends mere folklore. As the legend goes, in the northeastern part of Zhu Tang Township’s Wu Zhuang Village, the area suffered heavily from air raids by American planes. It is said that at that time, the American forces dropped a 500-pound bomb, and a woman dressed in red appeared in the sky, catching the bomb with her hands and feet.

Afterward, villagers discovered that the statue of Mazu in the Pi Tou He Xing Temple(埤頭合興宮) had a broken right index finger and a left shoe fallen off. Therefore, the local residents believed that the bomb was caught by Mazu, which led to Mazu of the He Xing Temple being called “Bomb Mazu.”

This story, known as “Bomb Mazu,” is not unique to Changhua but echoes through temples across Taiwan. There are many versions of the story about “Bomb Mazu” . Each version carries the same essence—a goddess’s refusal to let her people suffer, a testament to Mazu’s enduring protection. These tales weave a narrative of faith, hope, and the profound impact of the Mazu belief system in the hearts of the Taiwanese, serving as a beacon of light through the shadows of war.

Mazu Sentenced to Celestial Prison

I think this one is the most intriguing one.

In 1862, Maogangwei was one of the bustling villages in the Tainan area of Taiwan, lively enough to have a “night market” for evening shopping. According to some records, on the eve of an earthquake, the Holy Mazu of the Tianhou Temple in Maogangwei “descended to the planchette” to warn the people of an impending “great disaster” and urged them to be cautious.

However, when the people pressed for more details about the disaster, Mazu did not elaborate further, as divulging the secrets of heaven was considered a grave sin and could not be explained further.

Due to the outbreak of the Dai Chaochun rebellion starting in April of that year (historically referred to as the Dai Chaochun Incident), the residents of Maogangwei did not associate the divine warning with a natural disaster but rather with human calamities, suspecting that Dai’s troops or bandits might attack the village.

Consequently, they took preventive measures such as sealing doors and scattering beans to obstruct thieves. Unexpectedly, the disaster turned out to be a massive earthquake, and these actions inadvertently hindered escape routes.

This misunderstanding of Mazu’s warning, or perhaps the revelation of heavenly secrets, led to the legend of Mazu being “imprisoned for a hundred years” by the heavenly court, until her “release” in 1962. Following her release, a committee was established to rebuild the Tianhou Temple, which was completed in 1975.

Mazu’s attempt to warn her people of an imminent disaster underscores her unwavering willingness to help them, even at the risk of facing consequences from the heavenly bureaucracy for revealing secrets meant to be kept from mortals.

This act of divine defiance highlights her compassionate nature and her role as a guardian who prioritizes the well-being of mortals over celestial decrees. The legend also casts a light on the intricate relationship between the divine and the earthly realms.

The villagers’ misinterpretation of Mazu’s warning reflects the limitations of human understanding and the challenges in deciphering divine signs, especially when clouded by the immediate threats of human conflicts like the Dai Chaochun rebellion.

This misalignment between the heavenly warning and earthly reception inadvertently led to Mazu’s “imprisonment,” a narrative element that speaks to the complexities of divine-human interactions and the consequences of intervening in mortal affairs.

From a more conservative interpretation, the story also hints at a justification for the heavenly bureaucracy’s strict rules against revealing the future. It suggests that there might be wisdom in the divine reluctance to share knowledge of future events, as such revelations can lead to unintended consequences, misunderstandings, and potentially exacerbate the situations they aim to prevent.

The villagers’ preparations for a human threat rather than a natural disaster illustrate how divine guidance, when misinterpreted, can lead to actions that may not only be futile but also harmful.

The Cultural Significance of Mazu

In 2009, the belief in Mazu was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Over time, emperors from various dynasties bestowed upon her numerous honorary titles, elevating her status from a noblewoman to a goddess recognized by the state. This culminated in the Qing dynasty, where she received the highest honors.

The spread of Mazu’s worship is closely linked to maritime history and the diaspora of ethnic Chinese coastal communities, forming a significant part of the cultural heritage and social fabric in East Asia and Southeast Asian regions with ethnic Chinese populations.

Worshiping Mazu is an integral part of cultural and religious life in many ethnic Chinese communities around the world, with numerous temples dedicated to her and various festivals celebrating her legacy.

Famous Mazu Temples

Here are some of the most famous temples where you can pray to Mazu:

Dajia Zhenlan Temple (大甲鎮瀾宮) – Located in Taichung, Taiwan, it is famous for hosting one of the largest and most significant Mazu pilgrimage festivals in the world.

Tianhou Temple, Taipei (台北天后宫) – A significant temple located in Taipei, Taiwan, dedicated to Mazu, showing her importance in Taiwanese religious culture.

Beigang Chaotian Temple (北港朝天宫) – A well-known Mazu temple in Beigang, Yunlin County, Taiwan, known for its grand architecture and the annual Mazu festival.

Meizhou Mazu Temple (湄州媽祖廟) – Located on Meizhou Island, Fujian Province, China, this temple is considered the birthplace of Mazu and the most sacred site for her worshipers.

Tianjin Mazu Temple (天津天后宮) – One of the major Mazu temples in Northern China, reflecting the widespread worship of Mazu beyond the coastal areas.

Thian Hock Keng Temple (天福宫) – Situated in Singapore, this temple is one of the oldest and most important Hokkien temples outside China, dedicated to Mazu.
The Ma-Tzu Temple of USA(美國媽祖廟朝聖宮)- also known as the San Francisco Mazu Temple, was founded in 1986 by Kao Ke-ta, a Taiwanese immigrant from Beigang Town, and Xing Renyou, a qigong fitness expert.

Their mission was to continue the worship of Mazu in America, and to promote Mazu’s virtues of saving the world and benevolence.

Famous Festivals Associated with Mazu

Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage (大甲媽祖遶境) – The most famous event associated with Mazu, the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage in Taiwan, which attracts millions of followers. Pilgrims follow the Mazu statue from the Dajia Zhenlan Temple across various parts of Taiwan to seek blessings.

Beigang Mazu Festival (北港媽祖文化節) – This festival in Beigang, Taiwan, features a procession of Mazu’s statue and attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists.

Mazu’s Birthday (媽祖誕辰) – Celebrated on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, it involves various ceremonies and festivities in Mazu temples worldwide.

These temples and festivals not only honor Mazu but also serve as important cultural gatherings for the ethnic Chinese diaspora, promoting unity, cultural heritage, and spiritual values within communities.

So here you go, let me know what you think about Mazu, and if you have any other questions, I am Shao From What People Also Ask, see you next time.