Brief introduction of Mazu in Tianhou

Mazu, also known as Tian Fei, Tianhou, Tianfei and Tiannv, is a marine protector worshipped by Chinese in the southeast coast of China and overseas. Taoism's "Taishang Laojun said Tian Fei's efficacy in relieving suffering" said that Taishang Laojun named Mazu as "the pure spirit of supporting the bucket to show filial piety should help the country and protect the people, and the wonderful spirit should show Hong Ren Puji Tian Fei". The record of Mazu can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty. Mazu was originally Du Yuan's daughter named Mo Niang. She was born in the first year of Stegosaurus in Song Taizu (960) and died in the fourth year of Yongxi in Song Taizong (987) at the age of 28. When Lin Moniang was born, the room was full of red light and strange gas. Because I was born with a full moon and didn't smell crying, I was named Mo Niang. When Lin Moniang was eight years old, she studied in a school and liked to burn incense and worship Buddha. Thirteen-year-old Taoist secret method. At the age of sixteen, he was able to cross the sea to save people. After ascension, there are prayers to answer. Since Xuanhe, it has been sealed nine times in the Song Dynasty. Its title, Shao Xi of Song Guangzong (1 190), was promoted from "Lady" to "Princess", then to "Tian Fei" of Yuan Shizu, and then to "Tianhou" of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty. During Jiaqing period of Qing Dynasty, the title of Mazu had accumulated to twenty-eight. Mazu's main miracle is to help those who were killed at sea. According to legend, Mazu has a follower who is clairvoyant and can be rescued thousands of miles away. Mazu often wears red clothes and travels between islands by clouds. If the sea breeze blows suddenly and the ship is wrecked, just recite Mazu's holy name and Mazu will be there to help. According to Tian Fei's Classic of Effective Relief for Suffering, what Mazu saved was "capsizing, hurting people's lives, hurting people's lives, and dying people's lives, and there is no way to get rid of them". Later, Mazu's function was slightly expanded. The same scripture also says, "If businessmen sit idle, buy and sell wealth, or farm workers' skills, grow businesses, or deploy troops, or have difficulties in bearing children", "or get sick", "But those who can respect me and call me by my name will feel lucky at that time, so that I can get what I want and get what I want. "So, there are also people who take Mazu as their godmother.

Mazu Tempel is mostly built in the southeast coastal areas of China, among which Mazu Tempel in Quanzhou, Fujian Province is the ancestral home. There are 5 10 Mazu Tempel in Taiwan Province province alone, among which there are 39 temples whose history can be tested, of which 2 were built in Ming dynasty and 37 in Qing dynasty. March 23rd is Mazu's birthday every year. Mazu Tempel, represented by Mazu Tempel in Putian, Fujian Province and Temple of Heaven in Beigang, Taiwan Province, held a memorial service and a tour for Mazu. Mazu has a large number of believers and its incense is flourishing, which is still the case today. The statue of Mazu in Taiwan Province Chaotian Palace was invited from Meizhou, Putian, so it is considered as a "pistachio" in Mazu Tempel, Putian. Therefore, every few years, it is necessary to carry the statue of Mazu back to Meizhou to hang incense, to show the worship of Mazu, and also to investigate the memory of ancestors.

Mazu is the "Mother of Heaven", and we generally call it "Mazu" or "Mazu Po".

Mazu was a native of the ancient Song Dynasty. Her real name is "Moline Niang". She has been very smart since she was a child and never forgets to read the classics.

When Mazu was thirteen, he met a Taoist who taught him magic. When he was sixteen, he got a pair of immortal bronze symbols. Since then, he has magical power, and he can slay demons.

When Mazu was twenty-eight, his father was shipwrecked when he went out to sea to make fish. Mazu died to save his father, and after his father died, he ascended to heaven and gained enlightenment. He often rescued fishermen who were shipwrecked in the dark sea, and gradually became the god widely believed by people in Chinese mainland coastal areas and Taiwan Province Province, and became the patron saint of sailors.

Our ancestors migrated from the mainland to Taiwan Province Province more than 300 years ago, passing through the Taiwan Province Strait, commonly known as Heishuigou, and were often shipwrecked. So some people used the statue of Mazu as a patron saint when immigrants boarded the ship. After arriving safely in Taiwan Province Province, they took root in Taiwan Province Province and built a temple for Mazu. After more than 300 years, Mazu has become a god widely believed by people in Taiwan Province Province.

There are large Mazu Tempel in all parts of Taiwan Province Province, such as Wanhe Palace in Nantun, Taichung City; Changhua deer aerospace harem; Chaotian Palace in Yunlin North Port; Mazu Tempel, the Temple of Heaven in Chiayi Shop, has a history of 300 to 400 years, and its scale is quite large.

Generally speaking, there is only one Mazu named Lin Moniang, but why do we often hear that Mazu is divided into "aunt, second mother, third mother ..." or even six mothers?

In fact, these different names of Mazu are actually the same god, Mazu himself. But what does this number mean?

When Mazu Tempel was built for everyone to worship, there was generally only one statue of Mazu, which was generally the earliest statue in Mazu Tempel, so it was called Aunt.

With the temple getting bigger and bigger, there are more and more believers, and Mazu has more and more "jobs". For example, if you travel to Yun Jie, if you invite your aunt's idol to travel, won't there be Mazu in the temple? Therefore, the second statue of Mazu is usually carved in the temple, so that the aunt can sit in the temple at any time and the second mother can patrol or do other "work".

With the increasing number of Mazu's "jobs" and the division of labor, there are more and more statues. The first statue is called aunt, the second is called second mother, the third is called third mother, and so on.

As the saying goes, it is such a truth that aunt honors the town hall, second mother goes out to eat and drink, and third mother helps the poor.