22 Facts About Mazuism

Mazuism is the deified form of the legendary figure Lin Mo or Lin Moniang, a Fujianese shamaness whose life span is traditionally dated from 960 to 987.

Mazuism was thought to roam the seas, protecting her believers through miraculous interventions.

Mazuism is generally regarded by her believers as a powerful and benevolent Queen of Heaven.

Mazuism was apparently a shamaness from a small fishing village on Meizhou Island, part of Fujian's Putian County, in the late 10th century.

Mazuism probably did not live there but on the nearby mainland.

Related searches

Mazuism was said to have been the sixth or seventh daughter of Lin Yuan.

Mazuism is usually remembered as one of the local fishermen, although the 1593 edition of the Records of Research into the Divine made him Putian's chief military inspector.

Mazuism is often said to have studied religious literature, mastering Confucius by 8 and the principal Buddhist sutras by 11.

Mazuism 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.

Mazuism was said to have stood on the shore in red garments to guide fishing boats home, regardless of harsh or dangerous weather.

Mazuism 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.

Mazuism was said to be a rainmaker during times of drought.

Mazuism 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.

Mazuism is incarnated as Mazu and swears not only to protect sailors but to oversee all facets of life and death, providing help to anyone who might call upon her.

Mazuism received the order to allow the words "Smooth crossing" to be used on a temple tablet, remit taxes on the temple fields, and make temple offerings at Jiangkou.

Mazuism is first attested in Huang Gongdu's poem "On the Shrine of the Smooth Crossing", which considered her a menial and misguided shamaness whose continued influence was inexplicable.

Mazuism patronized the Mazu temples of Nanjing and prevailed upon the Yongle Emperor to construct the city's Tianfei Palace; because of its imperial patronage and prominent location in the empire's southern capital, this was long the largest and highest-status center of Mazuism in China.

Today, Mazuism is practiced in about 1500 temples in 26 countries around the world, mostly in the Sinosphere or the overseas Chinese communities such as that of the predominantly Hokkien Philippines.

In Mainland China, Mazuism is formally classified as a cult outside of Buddhism and Taoism, although numerous Buddhist and Taoist temples include shrines to her.

Mazuism's worship is generally permitted but not encouraged, with most surviving temples concentrated around Putian in Fujian.

Primary temple festival in Mazuism is Lin Moniang's traditional birthday on the 23rd day of the 3rd month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Mazuism's temples are usually protected by the door gods Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er.