Mazu belief and customs

Mazu belief and customs

Mazu is a goddess situated believed mainly by the people in the southeast of China. Mazu was originally named Lin Mo or Lin Mo Niang, born in the Putian city Fujian province. In the legend, she helped save people in peril of the sea, kills the monsters in the sea, and helped the injured people. Tons of historical stories recorded her stories, and from the Song dynasty to the Qing dynasty, Mazu was given several honour titles from the emperors. Gradually, she became a belief of the fishermen, businessmen, and seashore people to keep them rid of natural disasters. Nowadays, Mazu is still a common belief in many provinces in China and even some people in southeast Asia. On every 23rd March of the lunar calendar, which is the Mazu’s birthday, thousands of people will come to Meizhou island, which is believed by the born place of Mazu, to celebrate the birth of Mazu. The magical thing is that generally, on Mazu's birthday, Meizhou island will always rain. People believe that it is a blessing from Mazu.

ls306

worldheritagelayer

ls306@st-andrews.ac.uk

English

Intangible

352

20/05/2021

https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/mazu-belief-and-customs-00227

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unesco

current,25.088,119.132;

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