Siyang Mazu Cultural Park

Siyang Mazu Cultural Park

Siyang Mazu Cultural Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

As a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, Siyang Mazu Cultural Park is situated on Ruyi Island and Jixiang Island southwest of the Siyang Ship Lock, with a landscape structure comprising one axis, one loop, two cores, and one scenic area. At the far west of Ruyi Island stands a 32.3-meter-tall statue of the Three-Faced Mazu, the only one of its kind in the world. Major buildings on Ruyi Island include the Mazu Square, Mazu Statue, Mountain Gate, Bell and Drum Towers, Mazu Hall, Guanyin Hall, and the Three-Star Hall of Fu Lu Shou. The scenic area is a rare multicultural tourism destination among the world’s more than 5,000 Mazu temples, integrating water conservancy, ecology, scenery, as well as Buddhist and Taoist elements. It can be regarded as a unique cultural landmark along the thousand-mile Grand Canal.

The Heavenly Queen Palace, also known as the Heavenly Empress Palace, is located at the west end of Luoma Street in Zhongxing Town and has a history of over 300 years. The original palace complex consisted of two sections: the front section facing the street (Luoma Street) was called the Front Hall. On the east wall of the Front Hall was a brick carving reading "River Clear," and on the west wall, "Sea Calm." These carvings symbolize the wish for “peace under heaven.” The main structure, known as the Rear Hall, is spacious and magnificent, enshrining the statue of Lin Mo, the Goddess of the Sea. The Heavenly Queen Palace was built by merchants from Fujian. Its design, materials, and construction were all carried out by outsiders, especially in terms of architectural art — carved beams and painted rafters, brick carvings and stone engravings, small tiles and upturned eaves — all infused with elements of Southern Fujian culture.

The deity enshrined is said to be Lin Mo, a woman from Meizhou in Putian, Fujian, during the Song Dynasty. Her name was Mo, and she is the sea goddess who governs maritime navigation. Known for her kindness and charity, she often single-handedly rescued fishermen from maritime disasters and supported the fishing industry, accruing boundless merit. She is regarded as a guardian deity by coastal residents. When Fujianese merchants came to Siyang for trade, they brought this “sea goddess” with them, praying for safety and prosperity. Originally called the Heavenly Empress Palace, it was later renamed the Heavenly Queen Palace after Emperor Kangxi visited Zhongxing Town and, upon hearing the deeds of Lin Mo, conferred upon her the title of “Heavenly Queen.”

Legend has it that in the 19th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1690 AD), during the campaign to unify Taiwan, the sea goddess Lin Mo even appeared to assist in the effort. This Southern Fujian-originated culture has long been embraced by the people of Siyang. Since the Song and Jin dynasties, the people of Siyang have suffered greatly from floods, and they entrusted their hopes for water control to the Heavenly Queen. On the goddess’s birthday (the 14th day of the fourth lunar month, or sometimes the 8th) and on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, worshippers visit the Heavenly Queen Palace to offer incense and prayers, a custom that has continued through the ages.

Ticket price: Free

Address: No. 4 South Shanghai Road, Siyang County, Suqian City (on Lover’s Island, southwest of the Siyang Ship Lock)

Type: Temple

Grade: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: Approximately 2 hours

Official website: http://www.symazu.com/

Lin Mo, also known as Mo Niang, was affectionately called “Auntie,” “Goddess Mother,” or “Mazu” by the local people. She was from Putian.

Born on the 23rd day of the third month in the first year of the Jianlong era of the Song Dynasty (960 AD) into an official family on Meizhou Isle in Putian County, she never cried from birth until she was one month old, hence her name “Mo,” also called “Mo Niang.” Her great-grandfather Baoji served in the Zhou military as a commanding general but later resigned and lived in seclusion on Meizhou. Her grandfather Fu inherited the family’s meritorious service and served as the Fujian Provincial Commander. Her father Yuan held the position of Fujian Patrol Inspector in the early Song Dynasty. Mo Niang was exceptionally intelligent — at age eight, she could grasp the gist of texts while studying with a tutor. As she grew older, she enjoyed chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha. She... More details about Lin Mo ++