Mazu Culture Park on Miaodao Island

Mazu Culture Park on Miaodao Island

Mazu Culture Park on Miaodao Island is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tianhou Palace on Miaodao Island was first built in the fourth year of the Xuanhe era during the Northern Song Dynasty, which is 1122 AD. Originally a Buddhist monastery, it initially had only three thatched cottages. In the 16th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty, after shipmen from Fujian and Zhejiang specially set up a Taoist site within the monastery to worship Mazu, the temple gradually transitioned to enshrining the sea goddess. Throughout the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it enjoyed flourishing incense offerings.

In the first year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor decreed the renovation of the temple. Yang Guodong, the Left Commander of Shandong, carried out a large-scale expansion of the Tianhou Palace under imperial orders, essentially establishing the current layout of the palace. It formed an ancient architectural complex consisting of numerous halls, chambers, and corridors. Emperor Chongzhen bestowed the three characters “显应宫” (Xiǎnyìng Gōng), meaning "Palace of Miraculous Response," implying that those who enter the temple with good intentions will surely receive divine blessings.

Inside the Tianhou Palace on Miaodao Island, a large number of ship models and valuable maritime historical materials were preserved, and it was once hailed by scholars from China and abroad as the “Maritime Museum of the East.” During the Cultural Revolution in 1969, the original temple was completely destroyed, leaving only one mirror and one statue.

In the spring of 1983, the Changdao County Party Committee and County Government worked to rescue this renowned historical and cultural site and restore its original historical status. It was opened to the public in 1985 and was designated in the same year as China’s first county-level comprehensive maritime museum. It encompasses ship models from all over the world, carrying the historical tales of “respecting wood as boats” and “using wood as oars,” sailing into today’s mechanized era.

Since the establishment of the temple, every July, ships from southern regions (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian) would come to hold the “Hungry Ghost Festival” and perform operas. Merchants from all over would flock here for the fair, trading various goods. At the time, there were two phrases describing this bustling scene: “Masts and sails stood densely, coming and going incessantly; music and dance lasted all night long.” Miaodao’s Xiǎnyìng Gōng (Palace of Miraculous Response) was once spiritually connected to the four seas and divinely linked to the five lakes, leading over 120 temples on surrounding islands. Countless devout believers knelt before the Goddess, praying for her protection, hoping for rescue from danger and relief for the weak, with incense offerings continuing year after year.

Worshipping Mazu – the Sea Goddess

Due to the unique island culture and the special status of the Mazu Temple in the hearts of the people of Changdao over the centuries, the people of Changdao have worshipped Mazu from top to bottom, with nearly every household enshrining the Sea Goddess. Especially among ship-owning merchants and individuals, they would offer plaques or other items to the Mazu Temple. Some even built a ship model identical to their own boat and placed it in the Goddess’s hall, believing that in times of danger or disaster, the Goddess would show special care.

Every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month, Changdao holds a grand temple fair. Boats from the county’s two towns and six townships gather at Miaodao Island. The Miaodao Bay is filled with masts like a forest, colorful flags like paintings, and crowds of people. It is said that this temple fair was originally called the “Hungry Ghost Festival.” Since the Mazu Temple was established on Miaodao Island, Changdao has held this event, which now has a history of over 800 years.

In recent years, the Changdao Temple Fair has integrated the worship of Mazu with events such as the Lantern Festival, cultural performances, commodity exchanges, and lantern riddle games, creating an unprecedented scale of economic and cultural exchange. The Changdao County Party Committee and County Government have always strongly supported this mass activity. During the fair, department heads personally attend the event, and all commercial vessels are arranged to provide free transportation for pilgrims and tourists coming to worship the Sea Goddess from both on and off the island. At that time, the Xiǎnyìng Gōng on Miaodao Island becomes the center of all activities, with fireworks, celebratory drums, and colorful flags and banners filling the entire Miaodao Bay. People truly believe that the joyous temple fair will surely bring a bountiful harvest from the sea.

The people of Changdao have deep faith in the Sea Goddess. Everyone can tell stories such as “The Goddess Gives a Light,” “The Goddess Guides the Way,” “The Goddess Settles the Home,” and “The Goddess Wisely Claims Miaodao Island.” Almost all these stories revolve around the Goddess’s magical and omnipotent sacred lamp. No matter how violent the stormy waves or how perilous the dark rainy nights, as long as you see the faint red glow of the Goddess’s sacred lamp in the distance and resolutely follow that light, the surging waves will turn into gentle ripples, the heavy rain into a breeze, and a lone sailboat will safely approach a harbor as warm as a mother’s embrace... When fishermen return safely from danger, the first thing they do is visit the temple. They believe it must be following that red light that they were saved.

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

Born on the 23rd day of the third lunar month in the first year of the Jianlong era of the Song Dynasty (960 AD) into an official family on Meizhou Isle, Putian County. Until she was one month old, she never cried, hence she was named “Mo” (meaning silent), also called “Mo Niang.” Her great-grandfather Baoji served as a military commander in the Zhou Dynasty, resigned from office, and lived in seclusion on Meizhou. Her grandfather Fu inherited the family’s merit and served as the Fujian Regional Commander. Her father Yuan held the position of Fujian Patrol Inspector in the early Song Dynasty. Mo Niang was exceptionally intelligent. At the age of 8, while studying with a tutor, she could already grasp the main ideas of the texts. As she grew older, she enjoyed chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha. She... More details about Lin Mo++