Mazu (媽祖)

Tianhou (天后, literally meaning: "Queen/Empress of Heaven") Moniang Lin (a.k.a. Mo)

Mazu is the most powerful sea goddess in the known pantheons. Her name translates to Heavenly Queen, as fishermen and sailors pray to her for daily protection on the choppy and dangerous seas. She is also known as Daughter of the Dragon and Motherly Matriarch. But mariners refer to her as Mazu (exclusively). Most fear that she will take too long to put on her vestments and descend to earth in order to help others if they pray to the Empress of Heaven. She is a fearless, simple woman and asks little of her followers. But Mazu’s believers are devout and often ascribe additional roles to their Queen—including protection during childbirth and from calamity.

As such, she is now synonymous with kindness and mercy.

But to some people she is more than just the goddess of the sea. She is a protector of women and child, providing them safe passage where they might be harmed. In fact, fanaticism has risen in her name several times throughout history, and whenever another goddess appears to be gaining favor, followers of Mazu destroy those faiths and collect the stories of that goddess into Mazu’s. On more than one occasion, entire kingdoms have been destroyed to further the zealotry associated with Mazu.

Mazu is blessed with second sight and an unfailing memory. Each act that has ever happened since her birth is recorded in her mind. She truly is all-knowing. Mazu is also fearless in every regard and capable of fantastic feats of healing. Despite the specificity of Mazu’s domain, she is the most widely-known goddess in the world.

Mazu wears a crown and dragon robe, while carrying a ceremonial tablet. In Heaven, she sits on a throne between two reformed demons—Qianliyan the Clairvoyant and Shunfeng'er (“He with Ears that Follow the Wind”)— whom she conquered and then married her.

Divine Domains

• Glory [Honor, Legend]
• Good [Archon, Redemption]
• Law [(Archon, Loyalty]
• Protection [Purity]
• Travel [(Exploration]
• Water [Flowing, Oceans]

Favored Weapon

Taiaha (oar-like club with a harpoon head on the opposite end)

Tenets of Faith

Mazu’s beliefs are simple. She, in fact, does not consider herself a goddess, but rather a devotee of three different ancient religions that all taught peace. Mazu worships another great motherly goddess, whose name is lost to time. Those who show mercy and kindness in their lives are sure to be blessed by Mazu, who in turn is blessed for her mercy.

Oddly, in one part of the world, it is considered blasphemy to worship the goddess and small cults have grown up around her worship. These isolated pockets of worship do not have access to the same teachings as other places, and many of her philosophies have been perverted.

Having been born without crying, Mazu is pious and introspective, expecting the same from her followers. But this message has been lost over the centuries and her worshippers often display a lack of understanding for what they are praying for, forgetting that she is the goddess of the sea.

On the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month, fishermen honor Mazu by going to a seaside temple and pay homage there instead of entering the sea. Women honor the goddess by dressing up and burning incense. Those who wish to bear a female child eat a special flower blossom in the temple to Mazu. While mariners started the worship of Mazu, her religion has spread around the world.

The secret to immortality is preserved for the most pious. Though well-guarded, Mazu’s principles lead tenacious clerics and wizards of the faith towards infinite life. But the path is long and arduous, requiring followers devote themselves for months or even years in order to prove themselves worthy of Mazu’s divine gift. The defeat of a powerful foe, the rescue of innocents, and the defense of a sea port city may all attune the Seeker to rebirth as an immortal scion.

Oath of the Sea Goddess

Paladins who take this oath are fierce defenders of the peoples of sea towns and ports. Ready at a moment’s notice to come to the aid of those in need, they are known the world over for their benevolence, gentleness, and inner strength. They are also well-traveled, and their home is each temple of Mazu that exists in the world. Mazu’s paladins are so widespread and varied that there are very few instances of similar heraldry, save for the sea dragon with that adorns their armor.

Tenets

• Exemplify Mercy and Goodness. Always behave with benevolence, tolerance, and honor.
• Travel Well. Learn all you can about the world and its cultures. It is through knowledge and understanding that good can root out evil.
• Conquer Your Fears. Fear takes many forms and it is the destroyer within. As Mazu conquered demons and made them allies, so shall you with your inner demons.
• Responsibility. Be responsible for your actions and accept the consequences. Honor your commitments. Protect the weak. Obey those who are in command.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Born on the island of Fuzhou, in the Pingyi country, it was said to have been chosen when she did not cry during birth or during the first month afterwards; she remained a quiet and pensive child as late as four. She was said to have been the sixth or seventh daughter of Lin Yuan (林愿). He is now usually remembered as one of the local fishermen, although some records made him Pingyi's chief military inspector. The family was helpful and popular within their village.

In one legend, her mother dreamt of Guanyin, (the Goddess of Mercy) giving her a magical pill to induce pregnancy and woke to find the pill still in her hand; rather than being born in the conventional way, Mazu shot from her mother at birth in the form of a fragrant flash of red light. Guanyin was said to have been especially devoted to Mazu or even to have been incarnated as Mazu; for her part, Mazu was said to have been entranced by a statue of Guanyin at a temple she visited as a child, after which she became an ardent follower.

She is now often said to have studied religious literature, mastering the Dianji by 8 and the principal aphorisms by 11. The Account of the Blessings Revealed by the Princess of Heaven claimed that, while still a girl, she was visited by a Taoist master named Xuantong (玄通, Xuántōng) who recognized her divine nature. By 13, she had mastered the book of lore he had left her and gained the abilities to see the future and visit places in spirit without travel. She was able to manifest herself at a distance as well and used this power to visit gardens in the surrounding countryside, although she asked owners' permission before gathering any flowers to take home. Although she only started swimming at the relatively late age of 15, she soon excelled at it. She was said to have stood on the shore in red garments to guide fishing boats home, regardless of harsh or dangerous weather. She met a Taoist immortal at a fountain at sixteen and received an amulet or two bronze tablets which she translated or used to exorcize demons, to heal the sick, and to avert disasters. She was also said to be a rainmaker during times of drought.

Mazu's principal legend concerns her saving one or some members of her family when they were caught offshore during a typhoon, usually when she was 16. It appears in several forms. In one, the women at home feared Lin Yuan and his son were lost but Mazu fell into a trance while weaving at her loom. Her spiritual power began to save the men from drowning but her mother roused her, causing her to drop her brother into the sea. The father returned and told the other villagers of the miracle. One variant is that her brothers were saved but her father was lost; she then spent three days and nights searching for his body before finding it. Another version is that all the men returned safely. Another is that Mazu was praying to Guanyin; another that she was sleeping and assisting her family through her dream. Still another is that the boats were crewed by her four brothers and that she saved three of them, securing their boats together, with the eldest lost owing to the interference of her parents, who mistook her trance for a seizure and woke her.

Mazu died unmarried at 27 or 28. Her celibacy is sometimes ascribed to a vow she took after losing her brother at sea. The date of her passing eventually became the specific date of the Double Ninth Festival in 3025 SE, making her 27 by western reckoning and 28 by traditional dating. She was said to have died in meditation, though in some accounts she did not die but climbed a mountain alone and ascended into Heaven as a goddess in a beam of bright light. In others, she died protesting an unwanted betrothal. Still another places her death at age 16, saying she drowned after exhausting herself in a failed attempt to find her lost father, underlining her filial piety. Her corpse then washed ashore on Nangan Island, which preserves a gravesite said to be hers.

Divine Classification

Deity

Realm

Tianyugong

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• Mazupo ("Granny Mazu")
• A-Ma, also spelled Ah-Ma ("Mother" or "Grandmother")
• Linghui Furen ("Lady of Numinous Grace")
• Linghui Fei ("Princess of Numinous Grace")
• Huguo Mingzhu Tianfei[6] ("Illuminating Princess of Heaven who Protects the Nation")
• Huguo Bimin Miaoling Zhaoying Hongren Puji Tianfei ("Heavenly Princess who Protects the Nation and Shelters the People, of Marvelous Numen, Brilliant Resonance, Magnanimous Kindness, and Universal Salvation")
• Tianhou (天后, literally meaning: "Queen/Empress of Heaven")
• Tianshang Shengmu ("Holy Heavenly Mother")
• Tongxian Lingnü ("Worthy & Efficacious Lady")
• Shennü ("Divine Woman")
• Zhaoxiao Chunzheng Fuji Ganying Shengfei ("Holy Princess of Clear Piety,
• Pure Faith, and Helpful Response")