Taiwan: Roof detail at the Chengguangao Matsu Temple (Tianhou Gong), Taitung (Taidong)

The Chengguangao Matsu Temple is dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the sea. Mazu (Wade–Giles: Matsu, Vietnamese: Ma To) is the indigenous goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron saint of all Southern Chinese and East Asian persons.

Born as Lin Moniang in Fujian around 960 CE, worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China, later spreading to other countries with Overseas Chinese populations.

Mazu is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas in Southeast Asia, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.

Mazu also has a significant influence on East Asian sea culture, especially in China and Taiwan.

Before the 16th century the Taitung plain was settled by the agriculturalist Puyuma and Amis tribes. Under the Dutch and during the Qing Dynasty, a large part of east Taiwan, including today's Taitung Prefecture, was called Beinan.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia