Mazu (妈祖)
Chinese.
‘Mother-ancestor’. Name
for the goddess of the sea, who is believed to protect fishermen and
sailors. She is
widely worshipped in the coastal areas of southeastern China,
particularly in Hainan, as
well as in many countries of Southeast Asia, especially those with a
strong maritime tradition. According to legend, she was the daughter
of a fishermen's family and an excellent swimmer, who wore red
garments while standing on the shore to guide fishing boats home (fig.),
regardless of weather conditions. One day, she saved her father and
brothers from drowning at sea during a fierce storm, by praying for
them. Hence, she in now revered and invoked by many sailors before
they set out to sea. Her name is also spelled Matsu, which is
reminiscent of the Thai word matcha (มัจฉา) and the Sanskrit word matsya, which both mean ‘fish’, but also refers to the
first important
avatar of
Vishnu.
In Thai-Chinese temples, she is referred
to by the
Tae Chew name
Ma Jow, but she is also known as Tiang How (เทียงโหว), a
designation that derives from the Chinese title given to her, i.e.
Tian Hou or Thien Hau, which means
‘Heavenly Empress’.
In temples, she is usually depicted together with
Shun Feng Er
(fig.)
and his brother
Chien Li Yen (fig.),
two demons that
fought with Mazu, but whom she conquered and
subdued, turning them into her own loyal guardian-generals. She is
sometimes portrayed holding either a ceremonial tablet or a jewelled
staff, and wearing a flat-topped imperial headdress with beads
hanging from the front and back. Mazu has many other names and
titles, and in Thailand she is known as
Chao Mae Thabthim
(fig.), i.e. ‘Ruby Majesty’,
after the red colour of her dress (fig.). See also
Shin U Pagok. See also TRAVEL PICTURES.
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