Ma Zu, known as the “Sea Goddess” by everyone, is the patron saint of sea navigation.
She was originally a girl named Lin Mo from Meizhou Island in Putian, Fujian.
Ma Zu’s parents, Lin Yuan and Wang Shi, were very kind-hearted. Since they always wanted a son, Wang Shi often prayed to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.
Moved by their sincerity, Guan Yin decided to grant them a child.
One day, news came that Wang Shi was pregnant. During the delivery, Guan Yin had the Long Princess reincarnate into the Lin family.
After Lin Mo was born, she neither cried nor smiled, and her parents loved her very much.
Lin Mo was kind and upright from a young age, and even more willing to help others as she grew up.
At the age of sixteen, she received a bronze talisman from the gods, gaining magical powers that allowed her to ride on clouds and drive away evil spirits and demons.
Once, Lin Mo saw a deserted island where the people were living in hardship, so she scattered vegetable seeds.
The seeds grew quickly and the harvest was abundant every year, so the island was named “Caizi Island.”
Later, Lin Mo’s father and brother encountered a shipwreck while fishing at sea. Lin Mo sensed it and, while sleeping, her limbs moved violently as she tried to save them.
Unfortunately, she was awakened by her mother, and the boat she was holding in her mouth loosened, causing her brother to perish.
After this incident, people began to believe that Lin Mo was a celestial being who had descended to earth.
Lin Mo also felt a great sense of responsibility and began voluntarily engaging in maritime rescue. Wherever there was a call for help, there she was.
Ma Zu not only protected maritime affairs but also cared about the hardships of the common people.
During a severe drought, she prayed to the Yu Di (the Jade Emperor) for rain and finally persuaded the Wind God and Rain God to end the people’s suffering.
After Ma Zu died, the locals built temples to commemorate her.
Her soul resided in the temple and often appeared on the sea to rescue people in distress.
Legend has it that during the Northern Song Dynasty, someone at sea encountered a tornado. After calling on Ma Zu, the wind and waves calmed down, and he was saved.
During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He sailed to the Western Seas seven times, encountering danger each time but always escaping safely. Everyone said it was because of Ma Zu’s protection.
Ma Zu became increasingly revered by people and was honored by emperors of various dynasties, her status rising higher and higher.
Nowadays, there are Ma Zu temples all over the world, and Ma Zu culture has spread throughout the globe.
通过阅读中国神话、民间故事、历史典故、人物传记学汉语，简单易学，中英对照，适合初学者！
Learning Chinese through reading Chinese mythology, folk stories, historical allusions, and biographies is easy to learn and bilingual, suitable for beginners!