Meizhou Mazu Temple in Fujian Province, the world’s first Mazu temple built in 987 and the origin of Mazuism, sends off a statue of Mazu to visit the Philippines, October 20, 2018 (Photo by VCG)
The tempestuous nature of the sea is a thing of legend – and of gods. In the West, it conjures up images of Poseidon, reputed to be one of the most ill-tempered and vengeful of the Olympian gods. In contrast, the Chinese goddess of the sea, Mazu, or Tianhou, is kind and compassionate, watching over sailors, fishers and travelers.
Unlike Poseidon, Mazu came from humble beginnings. According to legend, Mazu was the daughter of Lin Yuan, the superintendent of southeast China’s Fujian Province in the early Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). She was named Mo Niang, meaning “silent girl,” because she did not cry when she was born.
In some versions of her legend, the bodhisattva Guanyin brought the child to her parents. But other versions go one step further, claiming that Mo Niang was a reincarnation of Guanyin.
Mo Niang was a quiet and studious girl. By age 11, she had a mastery of Confucian texts and principal Buddhist sutras. When she was 13, a Taoist master recognized the divinity within her. He gave her a book to further her training, which she soon mastered.
Mo Niang was blessed with many supernatural gifts. People claimed she could accurately predict the weather, exorcize demons, heal the sick and summon rain to prevent drought.
A 14-metertall statue of Mazu, Meizhou Mazu Temple, Putian, Fujian Province, October 7, 2022 (Photo by VCG)
Her origin story as the patron goddess of fishers is dramatic. Just as fishers were about to go out to sea, Mo Niang predicted a storm and tried to prevent them from launching their boats. But her father, the provincial superintendent, allowed the boats to head out anyway. Before they left, Mo Niang warned them in case the weather suddenly turned, they should look for a fire to find their way safely back to shore. Of course, the fishers were skeptical, but it did not take long for them to find themselves in a violent storm. Terrified by the towering waves, they cried for help. Mo Niang heard their cries and lit her own house on fire to light the way home.
The fishers survived, and from then on, everyone knew of her supernatural powers.
Another time, her father and brother were out fishing in separate boats. Suddenly, dark clouds blocked the sun and fierce winds picked up. Back on shore, Mo Niang was weaving at her loom when she suddenly fell into a deep trance.
Her mother became frightened and shook her awake. Mo Niang dropped the loom’s shuttle, opened her eyes and cried out, “Father was spared but brother fell into the sea and died!” Shocked, her mother sent someone to check. Mo Niang was right.
Mazu worshipers said Mo Niang had transported her spirit to her father and brother’s boats. She was standing in her father’s boat while holding on to her brother’s. At the moment when the shuttle of her loom fell to the ground, her brother’s boat capsized and was engulfed by the storm. Her father’s boat suddenly righted, as if by an invisible hand.
There are several legends about Mo Niang’s death and how she became a goddess. One popular version is she died at 28 while trying to rescue the survivors of a shipwreck. After that, she became a deity and continued to rescue fishers in distress.
In her memory, fishers built a temple on her home island of Meizhou in Putian, Fujian Province. They worshiped her as a goddess of mercy, kindness and compassion. People called her Mazu, literally “ancestral mother.”
Emperors honored her as well. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Emperor Huizong gifted a plaque to the Mazu temple after hearing an official report that Mazu rescued his envoy to Korea.
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Emperor Yongle gave her the title “Celestial Princess.” In 1405, he ordered Admiral Zheng He to voyage beyond the South China Sea to the western oceans to broker diplomatic and trade relationships with foreign countries.
The expedition included 20,000 sailors manning 300 vessels, including “treasure ships” measuring over 122 meters long and a legion of supply ships, water tankers, warships and oared patrol boats.
While on their first voyage, they encountered one of the most feared pirates on the South China Sea. Chen Zuyi had dominated the Malacca Strait and posed a formidable threat to trade routes in the region.
One night, as Zheng slept in his cabin, a red lantern floated to his bedside and turned into a woman in a red robe. Zheng was taken aback upon realizing it was Mazu. Immediately, he got up from his bed, knelt and bowed to the goddess. The goddess knew that Zheng had been loyal and righteous all his life, and explained how to fend off the pirate Chen.
With Mazu’s guidance, Zheng He’s fleet destroyed Chen’s hideout and defeated his forces in Palembang, Indonesia. Chen was captured, escorted to the capital of Nanjing, and executed. This military operation cleared the passage from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng led seven expeditions across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, stretching from Southeast Asia to the Persian Gulf and East Africa.
Zheng repeatedly appeared before Emperor Yongle, attributing his successes to “the revelation of the Celestial Princess.” In response, Emperor Yongle ordered the construction of Mazu temples in several places, and is credited with the inscription on the Mazu temple in Nanjing.
Even though her myth originated in Fujian Province, Mazu’s tale quickly spread throughout China and the Chinese-speaking world.
In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), along with the speedy development of maritime trade, people in China’s northern provinces worshiped Mazu to ensure safe sailing. After the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), increased trade led to the spread of Mazu worship in Southeast Asian countries.
Li Guoying, an executive member of the Chinese Mazu Cultural Exchange Association, told NewsChina that nowadays there are more than 10,000 Mazu temples and over 300 million worshipers in 47 countries and regions around the world. In 2009, UNESCO added Mazuism to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Mazu’s birthday is celebrated on the 23rd day of the third lunar month. Instead of going out to sea, fishermen go to Mazu temples to worship, piling offerings on their altars to the sounds of firecrackers and dragon and lion dances.
“Mazu culture embodies the peaceful spirit of Chinese maritime culture,” Li said. “It’s safe to assume that many fishers pay tribute to Mazu because, in their hearts, the Celestial Princess is doing her part to protect the lives of those who make their living on the sea.”
Representatives from Taiwan Mazu Fellowship and 13 Taiwanese Mazu temples worship Mazu at Tianjin Tian Hou Temple, an ancient Mazu temple, Tianjin, February 17, 2023 (Photo by VCG)