Mazu Ancestral Temple

Mazu Ancestral Temple

The Mazu Ancestral Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple is located northeast of Gongxia Village, Meizhou Town, Xiuyu District.

The Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple was first built in the fourth year of the Yongxi era of the Song Dynasty (987). Over time, it was continually expanded and repaired, and by the TianSheng era (1023–1032), it had taken on an initial form. In 1966, the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple suffered successive damage, leaving only the Shrine of the Holy Parents (Youde Shrine) and the Central Army Hall. In 1978, Lin Congzhi and others led fellow villagers in a large-scale restoration project of the Mazu Ancestral Temple. The Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple is the origin of all Mazu temples worldwide. Mazu, originally named Lin Mo (960–987 AD), was revered as the Goddess of the Sea after her death due to her life-saving rescues of fishermen and merchant ships at sea. Successive imperial courts conferred upon her honorific titles such as “Heavenly Consort,” “Heavenly Empress,” and “Heavenly Sacred Mother.” Meizhou Island is Mazu’s birthplace, and the Mazu Temple here is reverently called the “Tianhou Palace Meizhou Ancestral Temple.” Established in the fourth year of the Yongxi era of the Song Dynasty (987 AD)—the same year as Lin Mo’s passing—the temple initially consisted of just a few simple structures. Through subsequent expansions over the dynasties, it grew increasingly grand. The famous Ming Dynasty navigator Zheng He, after his seven voyages to the Western Seas, reported: “The divine presence manifested at sea,” and before his seventh voyage, he was ordered to preside over an imperial ceremony on Meizhou Island and oversaw the expansion of the temple. When Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty unified Taiwan, General Shi Lang reported: “We received divine assistance at sea,” leading to another imperial decree for further expansion. Today, the Mazu Temple has been meticulously restored, adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent in gold and splendor, becoming a sacred site revered by Chinese sailors around the world and longed for by compatriots at home and abroad.

On May 25, 2006, the Mazu Temple, as a Qing Dynasty-era ancient structure, was approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Lin Mo, also known as Mòniáng, was affectionately called “Auntie,” “Niangma,” or “Mazu” by the people. A native of Putian.

Born on March 23, 960, in the first year of the Jianlong era of the Song Dynasty, into a scholarly-official family on Meizhou Isle, Putian County. She never cried from birth until she was one month old, hence was named “Mo” (silent), also called “Mòniáng.” Her great-grandfather Baoji served in the Zhou Dynasty military as a Commander of the Troops but later resigned and lived in seclusion on Meizhou. Her grandfather Fu inherited the family merit and served as Governor of Fujian. Her father Yuan held the position of Patrol Inspector of Fujian in the early Song Dynasty. Mòniáng was exceptionally intelligent—by the age of eight, while studying with a tutor, she could grasp the main ideas of texts. As she grew older, she developed a love for chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha. … More details about Lin Mo ++

Gongxia Village: Gongxia Village… More details about Gongxia Village ++