Scholarly research indicates that Mazu evolved from the wizard beliefs of the Min-Yue region of China, and absorbed other folk beliefs (clairvoyance) in the process of development. With the expansion of its influence, it also incorporated Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and finally gradually stood out from the many sea gods and became an important element of the marine culture of Fujian and Taiwan, as well as the marine culture of East Asia.
Since the Northern Song Dynasty, A-Ma Zu has been deified, known as A-Ma Zu (a local honorific for a female ancestor) and worshipped in temples, and then named Lady Linghui by Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, making her a deity recognized by the imperial court. Mazu beliefs spread from Fujian to Zhejiang, Guangdong, Taiwan, Ryukyu, Japan, Southeast Asia (such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam) and other places, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, and the coasts of Shandong and Liaoning have Tianhougong or Mazu temple distribution.
Research on the maritime history of A-Ma in East Asia in recent years has led to discussions on the history of tribute trade, Ryukyu networks, and transnational migrations in East Asia before the discovery of Western navigation and geography, and the A-Ma faith circle has become one of the historical testimonies to the formation of the maritime economy and social structure in East Asia.
Expanded Information:
Mazu, or A-Mazu, is the name given to a group of people in Southeast China. p>Mazu, a belief in the goddess of the sea centered on the southeast coast of China, is also known as the Holy Mother of Heaven, Tin Hau, Tin Hau Niang Niang, Tin Fei, Tin Fei Niang Niang, and Meizhou Niang Ma. The main body of this belief is said to have evolved from real people. An examination of the life of Mazu reveals that this belief comes from folklore. First came the legends, then the historicization and deification of the legends, and finally the formation of the universal belief in A-Ma.
At present, scholars at home and abroad generally believe that A-Ma is not a fabricated idol, but a historic figure that came out from the people and was sacralized.
Lin Mo Niang's identity as a "Lizhong Witch" is the original form of A-Ma's beliefs. A-Mazu beliefs arose in a special ecological environment, closely related to marine fisheries production and its maritime activities. The fishermen wanted to have a guardian deity to protect their safety because of the countless number of people who were killed in sea accidents. A-Mazu's status as a witch is a perfect fit for the people's desire.
Her ability to speak of earth's misfortunes and blessings, to help the needy, to cure the sick and to eliminate disasters responded to people's wishes, and so she set up a temple to worship her after her death. It was only thereafter that one of her miracles followed another and molded her into a perfect goddess. So the folk belief in witchcraft was the ideological basis on which the culture of A-Ma was formed.
The status of A-Ma became higher and higher due to the proposal and advocacy of local scholars and eunuchs, and the imperial court frequently bestowed fealty on A-Ma. In the 19th year of the Kangxi period (1680), A-Ma was named "Holy Mother of the Heavenly Consort", and in the 23rd year of the Kangxi period (1684), A-Ma was named "Holy Mother of the Heavenly Consort" and "Queen of the Heavenly Consort", and "Holy Mother of Heaven" and "Queen of the Heavenly Consort" have been the sacred names of A-Ma ever since.
The A-Ma faith is one of the most representative folk beliefs in China, and it has spread throughout the world along with the Chinese.
The fundamental purpose of overseas Chinese in worshipping A-Ma is not to forget their ancestors and their roots. Originally, A-Ma was a god of protection on the sea, but later when her functions gradually expanded, people believed that A-Ma could help them out of difficulties, whether they were merchants, craftsmen, or whether they were suffering from a difficult birth or other illnesses.
So the overseas Chinese likewise built temples for worship. It is always hoped that through the A-Ma rituals, A-Ma's spirit of fraternity, helping the weak and the poor, bravery, fearlessness, indomitable spirit and the concept of filial piety will be carried forward, and that the essence of A-Ma's culture will be incorporated into daily life and passed on to the next generation.
Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China*** and the State Council of China, said in response that we also have a large number of folk beliefs, such as the Mazu belief, which is very familiar to everyone.
Amazu, as an ancient Han folk deity, why is her spirit recognized, praised and revered by so many people at home and abroad, around the world? An important reason here is that A-Ma Zu gathers in her the traditional virtues and lofty spirituality of the Chinese nation.
As a fisherwoman of the Han Chinese people, A-Ma Zu was kind and upright, courageous and righteous, helping the poor and needy, rescuing those in distress, benefiting the people, and protecting Chinese and foreign merchant ships in their safe voyages, all of which were meritorious deeds, and that is why she was so highly honored by the people. Mazu has done a lot of good deeds to benefit the people, and therefore has been respected and worshipped by many people at home and abroad.
Putian is the original home of foreign immigrants. In the Shantou residential plaques can still be seen in the "Putian old family", "Putian Yang lineage" and other Putian marks. Hainan can be examined into the Qiong ancestors have more than ninety, the number for the most from Putian. And Putian advocate virtue, adhere to the cultural atmosphere of the hometown tradition, inculcated the influence of these migrants, coupled with a strong sense of nostalgia, from the hometown of Mazu worship naturally with these migrants to the country, overseas.
During the Song and Yuan dynasties, Quanzhou was one of the largest trading ports in the world, and in order for the Yuan government to develop maritime trade, A-Ma was introduced to the port of Quanzhou, where overseas transportation and trade flourished, and became the goddess of the sea of Quanzhou, which became the national goddess of the sea due to the development of the waterways and overseas transportation, and was spread far and wide overseas.
Ming and Qing dynasties prohibited the use of the sea, and a large number of people from Fujian went to the South China Sea to cross Taiwan for their livelihood, and the belief in Mazu spread more widely overseas along with the footsteps of merchants and immigrants.
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