Tian Hou Sheng Mu (Heavenly Empress Saintly Mother)

Tags: goddess | Mazu | print

The “Heavenly Empress Saintly Mother” is Mazu, the most revered goddess in Taiwan. She was the six daughter of Lin Yuan, who lived in the town of Meizhou which was in Putian County of Fujian Province. Heavenly Empress was born in the first year of Jianlong of Song Dynasty. She never cried throughout the first month of her life, and was thus given the name Silent Maiden. Heavenly Empress was multi-talented from a young age and liked to chant sutras and pray to buddhas. When she was 13 years old, she met a Taoist priest, Shuan Tung, who taught her his Shuan-Wei secret ways. When 16, she received Tung-Fu Secret at a well. Once when she was crossing a river with her father and brother, the boat capsized and she swam to save her father. As a result, she became well known for her filial piety. Subsequently, she saved many people from drowning, expelled evils, and prayed for rains to relieve droughts. All the town people loved her. She passed away at the age of 28 and turned into a goddess of the sea who protects seafaring people. She was conferred through dynasties, including “Heavenly Queen” in the Song, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties and “Heavenly Empress” in Qing Dynasty. She is widely worshipped in the coastal areas of China and Taiwan. 

Printmaking
30 x20.5 cm

National Museum of History