| Description |
As the most influential goddess of the sea in China, Mazu is at the centre of a host of beliefs and customs, including oral traditions, religious ceremonies and folk practices, throughout the country’s coastal areas. Mazu is believed to have lived in the tenth century on Meizhou Island, where she dedicated herself to helping her fellow townspeople, and died attempting to rescue the survivors of a shipwreck. Local residents built a temple in her honour and began to venerate her as a goddess. She is celebrated twice each year in formal temple fairs, when Meizhou residents, farmers and fisherfolk temporarily suspend their work to sacrifice marine animals, venerate statues of Mazu and enjoy a variety of dances and other performances. Smaller worship ceremonies take place throughout the year in the other 5,000 Mazu temples around the world and in private homes; these may involve floral tributes; candles, incense and firecrackers; and evening processions of residents bearing ‘Mazu lanterns’. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Followers may implore the god for pregnancy, peace, the solution to a problem or general well-being. Deeply integrated into the lives of coastal Chinese and their descendants, belief in and commemoration of Mazu is an important cultural bond that promotes family harmony, social concord, and the social identity of these communities. |
| Transmission method |
Originally named Lin Moniang, Mazu was born in 960 AD on Meizhou Island of the Putian City in Fujian Province. Throughout her entire life, Mazu helped her fellow townsmen by forecasting the weather, making medicines, curing patients and saving lives from shipwrecks. She devoted her life at the age of 28 when trying to save lives from a shipwreck. Local residents then built a temple for her and started to worship her as the goddess of the sea. In the Song Dynasty (1123 AD) the imperial government bestowed on her the title of Heavenly Concubine, Heavenly Queen, Holy Mother, gradually Mazu culture has become conventional belief and customs. The Mazu belief and customs primarily consists of worshipping ceremonies, folk customs and folktales.
Worshipping ceremonies can either be a family sacrifice or a temple sacrifice. At a family sacrifice, the sculpture of Mazu will be placed on the alter table in family’s residence or on the boat, or the family will make a sacrifice to the sea, praying for peace and a safe voyage; while a daily temple sacrifice often includes sessions such as offering floral tributes, lighting incense and candles as well as letting of firecrackers. By the time a temple fair is held, there would be a more solemn worshipping ceremony.
The Mazu belief and customs was continually created when passing on. The sacrificial dance was originally attended by just female dancers. Later on, it evolved to include both male and female dancers. Floats are added on the Mazu Itinerancy (or Mazu Excursion) to perform folktales about Mazu. Overseas Chinese set up Mazu temples abroad, which gradually turned into important venues where believers get together and discuss official business.
Mazu belief and customs is inherited through incense ceremonies, the family lines and folktales. Following the footprints of fishermen, sea merchants and immigrants, it has been spread to over 20 countries and regions, worshipped in more than 5000 Mazu temples around the globe even today, they have become a part of the public cultural heritage in Mazu belief regions. Priesthood, sacrificial offerings, sacrificial dance and music are inherited through the tradition of the respective master and apprentice relationship. So far 36 practitioners are confirmed as representative heritors. The First Mazu Temple of Meizhou and China’s Association of Mazu Cultural Communications undertake the maintenance of the legacy. |
| Community |
Center: Meizhou Island in Putian City, Fujian Province of China, the legendary birthplace of Mazu. Relevant groups include the board of directors of the First Mazu Temple , China’s Association of Mazu Cultural Communications and Meizhou Research Center of Mazu Culture, which are all located on Meizhou Island, councils of 15 divisional Mazu temples such as Shanglin Mazu Temple,Shangying Mazu Temple,Linshan Mazu Temple,Tianli Mazu Temple,Shangxing Mazu Temple,Lianchi Mazu Temple,Hushi Mazu Temple,Linkai Mazu Temple,Jinfu Mazu Temple,Wenxing Mazu Temple,Huilong Mazu Temple,Zhaishan Mazu Temple,Longxing Mazu Temple,Baishi Mazu Temple,Shanwei heavenly empress palace.
Influenced areas: Mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other areas around the world with a sizeable Chinese population. Relevant groups include management committees of Mazu Temples (or Heavenly Empress Palaces) in Fujian province Quanzhou city Jinjiang Mazu Cultural Society, Tianjin city Heavenly Empress Palace,Jiangsu province Nanjing city Heavenly Empress Palace,Guangdong province Shenzhen city Nanshan Heavenly Empress Palace,Shanghai Songjiang district Pujiang Heavenly Empress Palace,Zhejiang province Ningbo city Qingan club Heavenly Empress Palace,Guangxi province Beihai city Weizhou Heavenly Empress Palace,divisional Mazu temples’management committees (or councils). Hongkong Tongluowan Mmazu Temple, Macau Mazu Pavilion, Taiwan Yunlin county Beigang Heavenly Empress Palace, divisional Mazu temples’management committees (or councils). Singapore Fujian Club Heavenly Empress Palace, Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Hai’nan Xue Long Club Heavenly Empress Palace, Indonesia Jakarta Mazu Temple, South Africa Cape Town Mazu Temple, France Paris Mazu Temple, Canada - Cumberland City British Columbia Mazu Temple, Australia Sydney Mazu Temple,New Zealand Christianity City Mazu Temple, divisional Mazu temples’management committees (or councils).
Currently there are over 5,000 palaces and temples dedicated to Mazu around the globe. There are 36 representative heritors such as the priest heritor Lin Jinbang and oblation heritor Xiao Yucheng. |
| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2009 |
