Thien Hau Temple in Ho Chi Minh City

Thien Hau Temple in Ho Chi Minh City

Thien Hau Temple is located on Nguyen Trai Street in Cholon (Chinatown), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is a temple built by the Vietnamese Chinese community in the 19th century, enshrining Mazu, the sea goddess worshipped by people along China’s southeastern coast.

Legend has it that Mazu was born on March 23rd of the first year of the Song Dynasty's founding (906 AD) on Meizhou Island in Putian County, Xinghua Prefecture, Fujian. Her birth was marked by auspicious signs: the room was filled with a red glow and a fragrant aroma; from birth until she was one month old, she never cried, hence she was named Lin Muniang. From childhood, Lin Muniang exhibited a supernatural ability to predict the weather and often went to rescue people during maritime disasters. At the age of 29, she ascended to heaven on Meizhou Peak in her hometown. After her ascension, she frequently appeared to save countless lives along the coast, leading coastal villagers to build temples in her honor. Successive dynasties bestowed titles upon her, venerating her as the "Heavenly Consort," until the 22nd year of the Kangxi reign (1683 AD) during the Qing Dynasty. When Admiral Shi Lang of the Fujian Navy attacked Zheng Keshuang in Taiwan and their warships ran aground, the Qing soldiers prayed to the Heavenly Consort and were saved. Upon learning of this, Emperor Kangxi elevated her title to "Heavenly Empress" ("Tian Hou"). Since then, Mazu has been widely worshipped as the guardian deity of fishermen and all seafarers among Chinese and Southeast Asian communities. Some fishermen even form spiritual kinship bonds ("shang qi") between their children and Mazu.

Thien Hau Temples are commonly found along the coasts of mainland China, as well as in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and other parts of East Asia such as Vietnam, Japan, and the Ryukyu Islands, as well as in overseas settlements of East Asian (mainly Chinese) communities. From southern China to the entire Chinese coastline, the belief in worshiping Mazu is widespread, as she is believed to ensure safe voyages. Therefore, the main gates of all Mazu temples face the sea.

Thean Hou Temple

Must-visit reason: The most famous temple in Ho Chi Minh City

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Vietnam[Vietnam]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Ho Chi Minh City [Ho Chi Minh City]

City where the attraction is located: Ho Chi Minh City [Ho Chi Minh City]

Lin Mo, also known as Muniang, was affectionately called "Auntie," "Niangma," or "Mazu" by the people. She was from Putian.

She was born on March 23rd in the first year of the Jianlong era of the Song Dynasty (960 AD) into an official family on Meizhou Islet in Putian County. From birth until she was one month old, she never cried, which is why she was named "Mo" ("Silent"), also called "Muniang." Her great-grandfather, Baoji, served under the Zhou Dynasty as a military commander but later resigned from office and lived in seclusion on Meizhou. Her grandfather, Fu, inherited the family's military honors and served as the Governor of Fujian. Her father, Yuan, held the position of Coastal Patrol Inspector of Fujian in the early Song Dynasty. Lin Muniang was exceptionally intelligent; at the age of 8, while studying with a private 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 Muniang++)