{"id":5367,"date":"2026-04-27T10:37:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/mazu\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:33:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:33:17","slug":"mazu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/mazu\/","title":{"rendered":"Mazu"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5367\" class=\"elementor elementor-5367 elementor-2110 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10fdade e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"10fdade\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herohlft0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herohlft0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3ceb64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3ceb64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96ae5e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96ae5e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mazu, Goddess of the Chinese Tradition<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45238a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e45238a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Goddess of seafarers, protectress of travelers, beacons of hope. Mazu is one of the most popular Chinese deities in South China, especially in coastal regions and among sailors. She is the southern counterpart to Guanyin (the Buddhist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"In Mahayana Buddhism, an enlightened being who postpones their own liberation for the sake of the teaching to other beings.\">bodhisattva<\/span> of compassion), but specific to the sea and to ships.<\/p><p>She is depicted in red robes, with a gentle face and an aureole, gazing out over stormy waves to rescue lost ships.<\/p><p>Her <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An edifying narrative, usually about the life of saints.\" tabindex=\"0\">legend<\/span> holds that she was an earthly saint who revealed herself through meditation, met needs at sea, and ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. Ever since, millions of fishermen and merchants have kept Mazu shrines on their boats.<\/p><p>Mazu is China&#8217;s protective goddess of seafarers and the sea.<\/p><p>Mazu is the goddess of the Chinese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span> and the patroness of seafarers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klsbdg01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"klsbdg01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klshtm01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"klshtm01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwg-pill-row\"><span class=\"iwg-klasse-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"God \/ goddess: personified supreme power in the pantheon of a culture, with clear areas of responsibility, forces of nature, fate, war, fertility. Venerated through cults, sacrifices, and temple institutions.\">Goddess<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/china\/\" class=\"iwg-kultur-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese gods, spirits, and folk religion, Daoist, Buddhist, Confucian.\">China<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/protective-deities\/\" class=\"iwg-tradition-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Protective deities, guardians of house, city, births, journeys, or stages of life.\">Protective deity<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f74855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f74855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30362 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"1c30362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;Es wurden keine \\u00dcberschriften auf dieser Seite gefunden.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herorght0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herorght0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-heroimg00 iwg-hero-image elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"heroimg00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_mazu-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5368\" alt=\"Mazu - gods from the Chinese tradition, historical and illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_mazu-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_mazu-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_mazu-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_mazu.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32917199 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32917199\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26e916cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"26e916cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253a40d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"253a40d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1200c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1200c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mazu<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159dcf9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"159dcf9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48cee66f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48cee66f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">At a Glance: Mazu<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f50d82c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f50d82c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-nosnippet><strong>Type:<\/strong> Chinese folk <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>, patroness of mariners and coasts<br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religious and philosophical tradition oriented toward the Dao, the Way.\" tabindex=\"0\">Daoism<\/span>, Chinese folk <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religion<\/span>, Taiwanese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"The merging of elements from different religions or cults into new hybrid forms, as in Haitian Vodou (Lwa and Catholic saints).\">syncretism<\/span><br>Function: protection at sea, safety of fishermen and travelers, maternal care<br>Main attributes: red brocade mantle, court-lady crown, lamp or chart<br>Main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> sites: Meizhou Island (Fujian, birthplace), over 1500 Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span> worldwide<br>Buddhist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"The merging of elements from different religions or cults into hybrid forms, as in Haitian Vodou.\">syncretism<\/span>: Tianshang Shengmu (<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">Holy<\/span> Heavenly Mother)<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18613602 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18613602\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262b8a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"262b8a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Classification<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46dcb7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"46dcb7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d3ab3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d3ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117c166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"117c166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the Texts<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73997a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73997a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mazu (Chinese <em>M&#257;z&#468;<\/em>, literally &bdquo;mother ancestor&ldquo;) is historically traced back to Lin Moniang, a young woman born in the 10th century (Song period) on the island of Meizhou near Fujian, who gained fame through miraculous rescues of mariners and was venerated as a cult figure after her early death (probably 987).<\/p><p>Deification in the 12th and 13th centuries under the Song and Yuan emperors. Today she is one of the most popular Chinese folk deities, especially in Taiwan and the Chinese diaspora.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47b156 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d47b156\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff38c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff38c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of Distribution<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e49fcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e49fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-nosnippet>Main cult site: <strong>Meizhou Island<\/strong> (Fujian), her birthplace and the largest Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> complex worldwide. <strong>Taiwan<\/strong>: the country with the most Mazu temples (hundreds). International distribution: Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, U.S. Chinatowns, the Philippines. UNESCO added the veneration of Mazu to the list of intangible world heritage in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db03c39 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db03c39\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229a87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"229a87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f471fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f471fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sources<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b1201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36b1201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Central sources: the local chronicles of Meizhou (12th century onward), the imperial conferral edicts (Song and Yuan periods), the <em>Tianhou Shengmu Shengji<\/em> (Holy Records of the Heavenly Mother, 16th century). Secondary literature: Boltz, <em>In Hommage to Tianfei<\/em>; Watson, <em>Standardizing the Gods<\/em>; Sangren, <em>History and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of events through special actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">Magical<\/span> Power in a Chinese Community<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0637c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ae0637c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d07739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31d07739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Name<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7642947 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7642947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a086266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a086266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mazu is depicted as a young to middle-aged woman in red or golden silk robes, often with a gentle, compassionate face. A radiant aureole or halo surrounds her head, not wrath like Zhong Kui, but kindness. She is frequently shown gazing out over the waves, with a lantern or a lighthouse signal in her hand.<\/p><p>At times two red figures flank her (<em>Er Ma<\/em>, the two mother-helper <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A bodiless being to which agency in the world is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirits<\/span>), or the moon shines above her. Artistically she is often central on <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> altars, with worshippers before her, often old fishermen and their families.<\/p><p>The red <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A recurring thematic element in art or narrative.\" tabindex=\"0\">motif<\/span> is central: a red lantern for ship safety, red robes for the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The pronouncement of salvation and protection, often in fixed verbal form.\" tabindex=\"0\">blessing<\/span> of life. Boats carry Mazu symbols to ensure safety.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-709a44a8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"709a44a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f585873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2f585873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Characteristics<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70621c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"70621c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4296eb49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4296eb49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mazu is a more direct, more personal goddess than administrative ones such as Yanluo or imperial ones such as Yuhuang. Fishermen pray to her for a safe voyage, full nets, and protection from typhoons.<\/p><p>Merchants traveling by sea swear oaths to Mazu. In Meizhou (her birthplace) the Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> is a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A person who undertakes a religiously motivated journey to a holy place.\" tabindex=\"0\">pilgrim<\/span> attraction; millions visit, especially for the birth festival of the third moon.<\/p><p>In Taiwan and the diaspora, Mazu processions are legendary: bearers carry heavy, ornamental altars through the streets while believers play music and set off fireworks. In contrast to male war gods (Guan Yu) or administrators (Yuhuang), Mazu is close, compassionate, almost motherly. She is not instruction, but consolation.<\/p><h3>Appearance and Symbolism<\/h3><p><em>Mazu<\/em> is depicted as a beautiful woman in red or golden robes, often with a crown or tiara. She sometimes carries a scepter or a seal.<\/p><p>Her companions are two <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An incorporeal being to which effects in the world are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirit<\/span> guides: one with red cheeks (the Far-Seeing One) and a paler one (the Keen-Hearing One). She stands on clouds or is surrounded by the waves of the sea.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e71476 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44e71476\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c1fc3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c1fc3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Profile: Mazu<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84f33b8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"84f33b8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hqkdc67p elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"hqkdc67p\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important aspects of Mazu at a glance. The following fields summarize origin, function, appearance, veneration, symbols, and parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qh9oavvu iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"qh9oavvu\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-awzx8k2k elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"awzx8k2k\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Origin<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x6rowhv0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x6rowhv0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mazu is historically traced back to Lin Moniang: born in the year 960 (Song period) on Meizhou as the daughter of an official, she rescued several mariners of her family from storms.<\/p><p>By the age of 16 she was known as a swimmer and a seer; at the age of 28 she is said to have climbed the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacred<\/span> mountain of her island and never returned. Later, mariners and fishermen saw her countenance in storms, which preceded rescues.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3o4kxs iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e3o4kxs\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08rkdgov elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08rkdgov\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Associated With<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uwjelx8s elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"uwjelx8s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Protectress of mariners, fishermen, and sea travelers. In situations of distress at sea she is called upon and appears as a red-robed figure on the horizon or at the mast.<\/p><p>In the extended <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or holy figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> she is also protectress of mothers, of pregnant women, and of the family in general. In Taiwan she is a central goddess of identification: many <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A person who undertakes a religiously motivated journey to a holy place.\" tabindex=\"0\">pilgrims<\/span> travel each year along the 350 km <em>Dajia Mazu Yuanjing<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A religiously motivated journey to a sacred site.\" tabindex=\"0\">pilgrimage<\/span> route.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jm2n74ec iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"jm2n74ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8vufse4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8vufse4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Representation<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mwb9u015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mwb9u015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A young woman in a <em>red or red-and-gold brocade mantle<\/em>, with the <em>court-lady crown<\/em> of the Song court ladies (with hanging strings of pearls). In her hand a <em>lamp<\/em> or a <em>chart<\/em> (a guide).<\/p><p>Frequently seated on a dragon throne or standing with outspread hands. Accompanied by two guardian figures: <em>Qianliyan<\/em> (&bdquo;Thousand-Mile Eye&ldquo;) and <em>Shunfeng&rsquo;er<\/em> (&bdquo;Wind-Hearing Ear&ldquo;), who report to her from afar about situations of distress.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37ss2yr6 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37ss2yr6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3v0wp3wx elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3v0wp3wx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mazu's Effect<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w3247g2m elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w3247g2m\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sphere of effect:<\/strong> Before every ship voyage and before every fisherman&#8217;s departure, incense is offered at harbor Mazu shrines. In Taiwan the annual <em>Dajia Mazu<\/em> pilgrimage festival (March\/April) is observed by over two million participants.<\/p><p>Visitors to the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> bring incense, food, and gold-paper <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express gratitude, petition, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">offerings<\/span>. In the personal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or holy figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span>, she is <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invoked<\/span> for family protection, healing, and safe journeys.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0qpjal9w iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0qpjal9w\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ndoih0o elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ndoih0o\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Protection<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6684tyh9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6684tyh9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Red brocade mantle, court-lady crown (with strings of pearls), lamp, chart, dragon throne, lotus. Attendants: <em>Qianliyan<\/em> and <em>Shunfeng&rsquo;er<\/em> (two guardian companions). Sacred animals: dragon, phoenix. Sacred plants: lotus, jasmine. Sacred colors: red and gold. Sacred number: 28 (the age at her death).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3lfi7x32 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3lfi7x32\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0kg99ga1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0kg99ga1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mazu's Parallels<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-n0fum6kp elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"n0fum6kp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Tianhou<\/em> (imperial title: &bdquo;Queen of Heaven&ldquo;), <em>Guanyin<\/em> (Buddhism, a related goddess of compassion), <em>Avalokiteshvara<\/em> (Buddhism). Global parallels among protectresses of mariners: <em>Stella Maris\/Mary<\/em> (Christianity), <em>Aphrodite Pelagia<\/em> (Greece, Aphrodite of the Sea), <em>Yemaya<\/em> (Yoruba\/Santeria), <em>Ran<\/em> (Germanic, sea goddess with nets). Functionally also: <em>Anahita<\/em> (Persian), <em>Sedna<\/em> (Inuit).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533bc7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7533bc7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2447d18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2447d18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Warding Off in Everyday Life<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d0260c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5d0260c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341be2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"341be2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Rituals of Veneration<\/h3><p>The veneration of Mazu is central to the seafaring culture of the South China seas (Fujian, Guangdong, Taiwan). Main festival: Mazu Dajie (Mazu&#8217;s birthday, the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month) with processions and offerings (fish, fruit, incense sticks, paper money).<\/p><p>The Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> in Putian (Fujian) has been the historical pilgrimage site since the 10th century. Daily veneration at house altars by seafaring families, with incense sticks in the morning, for protection from storms.<\/p><h3>Spells and Invocations<\/h3><p>Chinese nianfo\/<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"A ritually repeated formula of syllables or words with a transformative effect; central in Indian traditions, adapted in the West as decree practice.\">mantra<\/span>: \u201e\u5357\u7121\u5abd\u7956\u5a18\u5a18&#8221; (Namo Mazu Niangniang, homage to the goddess). Invocations before sea voyages and during storms. Daoist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through special actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span>: <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An object to which an effect of bringing about luck or success is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">talisman<\/span> writings (Fu) that invoke Mazu&#8217;s protection are sold by Daoist priests. Historical texts: songs and hymns in the Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The collection of the sacred scriptures of a religion recognized as authoritative.\" tabindex=\"0\">canon<\/span> (17th-century compilations).<\/p><h3><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A worn object to which a protective, misfortune-averting effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Amulets<\/span> and Protective Symbols<\/h3><p>Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An object to which an effect of bringing about luck or success is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">talismans<\/span> (protective images) in fishing boats and in the houses of sailors. Daoist paper amulets (Fu characters) with an <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or conjuring address of a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invocation<\/span> of Mazu Niangniang.<\/p><p>Archaeological evidence: Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A text incised or carved into a solid support.\" tabindex=\"0\">inscription<\/span> stones from the 12th century in Fujian, ceramic statues from the Ming period in museums in Taiwan and China. Wood carvings in modern temples show Mazu with dragon-throne <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The study of pictorial content and its meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">iconography<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a584676 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a584676\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d0757bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d0757bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mazu, Parallels in Other Cultures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60563f68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60563f68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a93fdd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a93fdd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mazu resembles the European Stella Maris (the Virgin Mary, patroness of sailors), the Greek Amphitrite (sea goddess), and the Hawaiian Namaka (ocean goddess). In contrast to Amphitrite (primarily mythological) or Stella Maris (theologically imposed), Mazu became established organically and from the people. With the Buddhist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"In Mahayana Buddhism, an enlightened being who postpones their liberation for the sake of the teaching to other beings.\">bodhisattva<\/span> Guanyin (compassion) she shares the feminine, compassionate principle.<\/p><p>With Inari (Japanese) Mazu shares veneration through millions of lay altars in private spaces. With Guan Yu she shares the historical-legendary hybridity. What is unique is her specificity: she is not a general goddess but specialized in the sea, illustrating the need for contextual deities in practical cultures.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp74ed90d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp74ed90d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp45832e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp45832e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Historical Lin Moniang: From Woman to Goddess<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpccbd55a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpccbd55a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp8b7d376 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp8b7d376\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Unlike most deities of Chinese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Religious ideas and customs that are widespread in everyday life.\" tabindex=\"0\">folk belief<\/span>, Mazu goes back to a figure who, according to <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>, is historically tangible.<\/p><p>She is said to have lived as Lin Moniang in the 10th century on the island of Meizhou off the coast of Fujian Province, traditionally dated to around 960 to 987. The accounts describe her as the daughter of a fishing family, silent (hence the name <em>Moniang<\/em>, &#8220;the silent girl&#8221;), pious, and gifted with special abilities.<\/p><p>The best-known episode tells how, in a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An altered state of consciousness with narrowed attention; deliberately induced in shamanic and mediumistic practice.\" tabindex=\"0\">trance<\/span> or in a dream, she rescued her father and her brothers who had been caught in a storm at sea.<\/p><p>When her mother woke her, she let go of one of the brothers whom she had held fast in <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An incorporeal being to which an effect in the world is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirit<\/span>, and he drowned. Another <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span> has her die young by climbing a mountain and being taken up into heaven.<\/p><p>From this local figure, over the centuries, an empire-wide venerated goddess emerged. The process of <em>apotheosis<\/em>, of deification, can be traced through the sources. At first she was a patroness of the sailors of Fujian.<\/p><p>Then emperors began to confer titles on her, which sanctioned and broadened her veneration. <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">Religious studies<\/span> sees in Mazu a model example of how, within the Chinese religious system, a person could rise to the rank of a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> through the combination of popular veneration, local tradition, and state recognition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp8facb6f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp8facb6f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpca841f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpca841f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Imperial Titles and the Rise to Empress of Heaven<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp3623708 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp3623708\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp7a58d7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp7a58d7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>State promotion was decisive for Mazu&#8217;s career. From the Song dynasty onward, the emperors conferred ever higher titles on her in a long series of honors.<\/p><p>According to <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>, she received her first official rank in the early 12th century. Under the following dynasties she rose from a &#8220;lady&#8221; (<em>furen<\/em>) to a &#8220;consort of heaven&#8221; (<em>tianfei<\/em>).<\/p><p>The highest title was conferred on her by the emperor of the Qing dynasty in the 17th century: <em>Tianhou<\/em>, &#8220;Empress of Heaven&#8221; or &#8220;Queen of Heaven.&#8221; Under this name she is known to this day in many temples, whose designation <em>Tianhou <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span><\/em> derives from it. Each elevation of title was often linked to a concrete occasion, such as alleged help in a naval battle, an embassy voyage, or the securing of grain transport by sea.<\/p><p>This process says much about the Chinese relationship between state and religion. The imperial court conducted a kind of administration of the supernatural. Local deities could be incorporated into an empire-wide &#8220;civil service&#8221; of the beyond, with ranks and titles modeled on those of the earthly officialdom.<\/p><p>Mazu was especially suited to this policy because seafaring was of high importance to the empire, for trade, tax transport, and coastal defense. Her veneration was therefore not only the pious practice of fishermen but also an instrument of imperial integration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp357ff36 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp357ff36\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf328267 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpf328267\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Temple Network and Spread Beyond the South China Sea<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpc49ef85 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpc49ef85\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpe426f05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpe426f05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The veneration of Mazu followed the routes of South Chinese emigration and sea trade. Wherever people from Fujian and Guangdong settled, they founded Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span>.<\/p><p>In this way a dense network of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuaries<\/span> arose along the Chinese coast, on Taiwan, where Mazu became one of the most important deities of all, as well as in Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and in Chinese communities worldwide.<\/p><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ancestor venerated in many cultures as a protective power.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancestral<\/span> temple on Meizhou is regarded as the place of origin from which many <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span> derive their cult statues.<\/p><p>This connection is maintained through the practice of <em>fenxiang<\/em>, the &#8220;sharing of the incense&#8221;: a new <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> takes ash or embers from the censer of an older temple and thereby establishes a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ordered sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span> line of descent.<\/p><p>The annual pilgrimages, in which Mazu statues are carried through the landscape in great processions, are today among the largest religious mass events in the Chinese-speaking world.<\/p><p>In 2009 the belief in Mazu was added by UNESCO to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.<\/p><p>This recognition marks a further shift in the long history of the veneration: from local fishermen&#8217;s <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The lived religious attitude and practice of a person.\" tabindex=\"0\">piety<\/span>, through imperial state-cult policy, to the cultural-political upgrading in the present, in which Mazu also functions as a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of a notion or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of shared identity across political borders.<\/p><p><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">Religious studies<\/span> observes here how a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> takes on new social functions again and again, without losing its core: protection on the dangerous water.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dd7469 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36dd7469\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13760ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13760ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further Links<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c87796 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28c87796\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6538df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6538df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"\/en\/avalokiteshvara\/\">Avalokiteshvara, principal Buddhist bodhisattva<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/china\/\">China, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/high-deities\/\">High deities, sub-category<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/gods\/\">Gods, class overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grl4kl40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"grl4kl40\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bzsbfrmh elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bzsbfrmh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Literature (Selection)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c13224a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c13224a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eymh9ub elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eymh9ub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\" data-nosnippet=\"true\"><ul><li><span data-nosnippet>Boltz, Judith M.: <em>In Hommage to Tianfei<\/em>. In: <em>Journal of the American Oriental Society<\/em> 106 (1986).<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Watson, James L.: <em>Standardizing the Gods. The Promotion of T&rsquo;ien Hou (&#8220;Empress of Heaven&#8221;) Along the South China Coast<\/em>. Berkeley 1985.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Sangren, P. Steven: <em>History and Magical Power in a Chinese Community<\/em>. Stanford 1987.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Lin, Mei-Rong: <em>The Belief in Mazu and Its Folk <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the customs handed down within a community.\" tabindex=\"0\">Customs<\/span> in Taiwan<\/em>. Taipei 1996.<\/span><\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (entry &bdquo;Mazu&ldquo;).<\/li><\/ul><\/footer>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-065da0e e-con-boxed e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"065da0e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc7cd50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dc7cd50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Frequently Asked Questions about Mazu<\/h2><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>Who is Mazu in Chinese religion?<\/h3><p>Mazu (Chinese, roughly &#8220;mother ancestor&#8221;) is the Chinese goddess of the sea and patroness of seafarers, fishermen, and travelers. Unlike most deities, she goes back to a historical person: Lin Moniang, a girl from a fishing family on the island of Meizhou in Fujian Province who lived in the 10th century.<\/p><p>According to <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>, she had supernatural abilities and rescued sailors from storms. After her early death she was venerated as a goddess.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>How widespread is the Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or holy figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> today?<\/h3><p>The Mazu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or holy figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> is one of the most vibrant folk cults of the Chinese cultural sphere, with several hundred million devotees. It is particularly strong in Fujian, Taiwan, and the Chinese communities of Southeast Asia.<\/p><p>In Taiwan the annual Mazu pilgrimage <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span> is among the largest religious events, in which statues are carried over hundreds of kilometers. In 2009 UNESCO added the belief in Mazu and its customs to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.<\/p><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who is Mazu in Chinese religion?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Mazu (Chinese, roughly \\\"mother ancestor\\\") is the Chinese goddess of the sea and patroness of seafarers, fishermen, and travelers. Unlike most deities, she goes back to a historical person: Lin Moniang, a girl from a fishing family on the island of Meizhou in Fujian Province who lived in the 10th century. According to tradition, she had supernatural abilities and rescued sailors from storms. After her early death she was venerated as a goddess.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How widespread is the Mazu <span class=\\\"iwg-fachbegriff\\\" data-tooltip=\\\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or holy figure.\\\" tabindex=\\\"0\\\">cult<\/span> today?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Mazu <span class=\\\"iwg-fachbegriff\\\" data-tooltip=\\\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or holy figure.\\\" tabindex=\\\"0\\\">cult<\/span> is one of the most vibrant folk cults of the Chinese cultural sphere, with several hundred million devotees. It is particularly strong in Fujian, Taiwan, and the Chinese communities of Southeast Asia. In Taiwan the annual Mazu pilgrimage procession is among the largest religious events, in which statues are carried over hundreds of kilometers. In 2009 UNESCO added the belief in Mazu and its customs to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.\"}}]}<\/script>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mazu, Goddess of the Chinese Tradition Goddess of seafarers, protectress of travelers, beacons of hope. Mazu is one of the most popular Chinese deities in South China, especially in coastal regions and among sailors. She is the southern counterpart to Guanyin (the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion), but specific to the sea and to ships. She [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5368,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Mazu","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Mazu, China's Goddess of Seafarers and the Sea","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Rescuer of fishermen, the Meizhou shrine, and her veneration in South China's maritime culture and the diaspora.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[112,79,86],"class_list":["post-5367","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-china","category-cultures","category-gods"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mazu, China&#039;s Goddess of Seafarers and the 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