History of Heavenly Empress
Ma Zhu
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Ma Zhu is widely worshipped as The Goddess
of The Sea among the Chinese communities around the
world.They also prefer to call her as Tian Hou Niang
Niang (The Heavenly Empress) because of her courage,
humanitarism and kindness towards her fellow
communities.Over the years,a host of legends has been
developed about her being given the status as a deity and
became one of the most worshipped by and prayed to by the
Chinese.
According to historical research and records, it is
understand that Ma Zhu was born on the 23rd day of the
third month ofthe lunar calender in 960AD (Song
Dynasty).Her original name was Lin Mo Niang,and she was
very intelligent from young.She started schooling when
she was eight years old.She was blessed with a
photografic memory,she was able to understand and
remember everythings she read. Lin Mo Niang grew up in
Meizhou Islands off Putian in Fujian.As her life was
destined,she became a Buddhist when she was ten years
old.She had the gift of healing and teaches the villagers
how to prevent diseases.Because of her warm heartedness
and eagerness to help the unfortunate,she gains the loves
and respects from the villagers.
Putian was a very busy port, mainly because of fishing
boats and trading junks(flat bottom cargos sailing
vessels)activities.The weather was not always kind to the
fishermen and sailors.The poorly built boats are exposed
to great danger during heavy storms and Lin Mo Niang will
join the search and rescue team to the sea without any
hesitation or concern of her own safety if there's a
distress call.When Lin Mo Niang was 16, her father and
elder brother were caught in a heavy storm while at
sea,realising both the men were in great danger she cried
out loudy and bitterly because she can't do anything to
save them.As soon as the storm ceased,this filial
daughter immediately set out in a boat to look for her
father and brother.She managed to save her father but her
elder brother had drowned.Lin Mo Niang's filial and
courageous act had touch the villagers heart and gain
even more respects.
In 987AD,this highly respected woman in Meizhou Islands
had died,she was only 27 years old when she took her last
breath.It is said that a colorful rainbow was seen over
Meizhou Island and beautyful music were heard that
day.After her demisemany sailors and fishermen claimed
that they saw Lin Mo Niang dressed in red whenever there
was a bad storm.She would save the lives of those who
cried for help.Eversince those incidence,the
fishermen,sailors or any other sea farers started the
practice of praying the image of Ma Zhu for safe
journeys.As Ma Zhu's reputation for saving lives of
fishermen at sea grewand spread,she was honoured several
titles by different emperors of different dynasties.(The
Song,Yuan,Ming and Qing Dynasty). The Qing Dynasty,she
was known as Tian Fei(Queen of Heaven),Tian Hou(Heavenly
Empress)and Tian Shang
Sheng Mu(Divine Mother of Heaven).
Kuantan Tian Hou Gong was build in 1904 and is the oldest
Temple in Kuantan.The temple is maintain and taken care
by
Kuantan Hainan Association.It is situated at Jalan Bukit
Ubi which is about 5 kilometre from Kuantan town.To find
out more about Kuantan Tian Hou Gong,please Click
Here.
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