Chinese everywhere know of the goddess Mazu. Temples have been constructed in honor of her for centuries and her story is legendary. Mazu is the Goddess of the Sea and she protects fishermen and communities near the ocean. The legend of Mazu dates back to over 1,000 years ago in the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Lin Moniang, Mazu’s real name, was an attractive young girl and was respected and well-liked by everyone in her village. Lin Moniang was alsorevered for her ability to forecast the weather. This gift was especially advantageous to the fishermen who fished the seas in the area. The young girl was capable of warning them of impending weather conditions and telling them if it was safe to go out to sea or if it would be best to stay in the port.

The legend of Mazu proclaims that after her death she went up to heaven and became an immortal. From heaven she watches over the seas and the people who travel on and across them. Because of this, over 100 million people worship her. In fact, there are more than 1,500 temples dedicated to her the world over. 900 of them are located in Taiwan. Wherever there is a Chinese community, there is a temple dedicated to Mazu.