The Legend of Mazu

Mazu, originally named Lin Mo-niang, was born on Meizhou Island, Putian, Fujian during the Song Dynasty. From a young age, she was known for her intelligence and kindness. By the age of eight, she could read Buddhist scriptures, and by sixteen, she was skilled in medicine and lifesaving techniques. She often watched the sea and sky, predicting storms and helping fishermen avoid danger. One famous legend tells of her father and brothers being caught in a storm at sea. Lin Mo-niang fell into a trance, spiritually guiding their boat safely home by holding a red lantern. Throughout her life, she was devoted to helping others, saving countless lives, and was deeply loved by her community. At the age of twenty-eight, she passed away by the sea. The villagers, grateful for her virtue, built temples in her honor and worshipped her as "Mazu". As migration and maritime trade expanded, Mazu's faith spread throughout coastal China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, making her one of the most important sea goddesses in the Chinese world. Every year on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, grand processions and pilgrimages are held in her honor across Taiwan, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees and showcasing her spirit of compassion and protection.