Anmei Mazu Temple

Anmei Mazu Temple

Anmei Mazu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Anmei Mazu Temple in Shanwei is a historic cultural relic with a long history in the Shanwei area. It was first built in May of the ninth year of the Shunzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty. At that time, Shanwei was still a sparsely populated small fishing village, and most residents made a living from fishing. In times of turbulent weather and towering waves, only Mazu, the great goddess of safe voyages, could provide spiritual comfort to fishermen, inspiring them with the courage to overcome disasters and tide over hardships. Most of the fishermen in Shanwei at that time had migrated from Fujian and held deep reverence for Mazu. Therefore, a propitious site was chosen in the western part of Shanwei, and a special trip was made to Meizhou in Putian, Fujian, to obtain a sacred flame and enshrine Mazu, bringing her to Shanwei for worship. As history progressed, the fishing industry, salt production, and commerce flourished day by day. Shanwei developed from a small fishing village into a port of considerable scale, becoming a well-known fishing base in eastern Guangdong. Due to Mazu's renowned influence, the number of worshippers visiting the temple increased year by year. The Anmei Mazu Temple became a must-visit temple for fishermen, boatmen, merchants, and travelers in the Shanwei area and neighboring ports. In September of the third year of the Guangxu reign and again in September of the nineteenth year of the Republic of China, two rounds of renovation and expansion were carried out on the temple, turning it into a grand and bustling place of worship in the Shanwei area. The Mazu phenomenon and Mazu culture became a unique cultural aspect of Shanwei at the time, and the annual worship activities on Mazu’s birthday became a fixed religious and cultural event in Shanwei.

In 1996, the people of Shanwei applied to the local government to designate the Anmei Mazu Temple as a historical relic, which was approved. The foundation for expanding and renovating the temple was laid in October 1996. After several years of fundraising and material preparation, and especially with the generous support of Mr. Shao Zhenming, who donated over 6 million RMB, the temple complex—including the front hall of the Heavenly Queen, the main hall of the Heavenly Queen, bell and drum towers, two side corridors, a plaza, a theater stage, as well as auxiliary facilities such as a kindergarten and a senior citizens’ activity center—has now been completed with a total construction area of 1,960 square meters. The halls are resplendent and majestic, presenting an awe-inspiring spectacle. The Anmei Mazu Temple not only boasts exquisite architecture but also offers high-level cultural depth. The four golden characters “Anmei Ancestral Temple” were inscribed by Shen Peng, Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association. Other notable contributors include Zhang Hai, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association and Chairman of the Henan Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Liu Yi, Advisor to the Chinese Calligraphers Association; Li Duo, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Advisor to the Chinese Calligraphers Association; Lin Xiu (female), Vice Chairwoman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association and Professor of Classical Literature at the China Journalism Institute; Li Gangtian, Council Member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Committee Member of the Seal Art Committee of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, and Vice Chairman of the Henan Calligraphers Association; Wang Xiangzhi, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China-Korea Calligraphers Friendship Association and Council Member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association; He Changgui, member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Vice Chairman of the Jiamusi Calligraphers Association, and Editor-in-Chief of Youth Calligraphy Newspaper; and Ni Jinxiang, member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Couplet Society, and Chinese Poetry Society. These individuals have contributed calligraphy works, plaques, and poems, adding priceless cultural value to the Anmei Mazu Temple and enriching its significance as a historical relic. The Anmei Mazu Temple has become an ideal destination in Shanwei for Mazu cultural exchange, tourism, leisure, and various cultural activities.

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

Born on March 23, 960, in the first year of the Jianlong reign of the Song Dynasty, in Meizhou Islet, Putian County, she came from an official family. She did not cry even once until she was one month old, hence she was named “Mo” (meaning “silent”) and also called “Momo Niang.” Her great-grandfather, Baoji, served as a military commander in the Zhou dynasty but resigned from office and lived in seclusion in Meizhou. Her grandfather, Fu, inherited the family’s honors and served as the Fujian Governor. Her father, Yuan, was an official patrol inspector of Fujian in the early Song Dynasty. Lin Mo was exceptionally intelligent; at the age of eight, she could understand the general meaning of the texts she read with her tutor. As she grew older, she enjoyed chanting scriptures and practicing Buddhism. She… Lin Mo’s detailed information++