Taiwan: Main altar with Matsu, Goddess of the Sea, Matsu Temple (Tianhou Gong), Tainan

The Matsu Temple in Tainan 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.

Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan. The town was initially established by the Dutch East India Company as a ruling and trading base called Fort Zeelandia during the period of Dutch rule on Taiwan. After Dutch colonists were defeated by Koxinga in 1661, Tainan remained as the capital of the Tungning Kingdom until 1683 and afterwards the capital of Taiwan prefecture under the rule of the Qing Dynasty until 1887, when the new provincial capital was moved to Taipei.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia