Panlong (蟠龍)
Alternative Names (異名):
蟠龍, Panlong, Coiled Dragon
In Chinese mythology the Panlong (Chinese: 蟠龍; pinyin: pánlóng; Wade-Giles: p'an-lung; literally "coiled dragon") are water dragons believed to mostly inhabit the lakes of the Orient.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panlong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese dragons | Chinese mythology | Legendary creature stubs | Chinese mythology stubs
Ouyang Xiu (歐陽脩, 1007-1072)
Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072)
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Ouyang.
Ouyang Xiu (simplified Chinese: 欧阳修; traditional Chinese: 歐陽脩; pinyin: Ōuyáng Xiū; Wade–Giles: Ou-yang Hsiu) (1007 – September 22, 1072[1]) was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist, calligrapher and poet of the Song Dynasty. He is also known by his courtesy name of Yongshu, and was also self nicknamed The Old Drunkard 醉翁, or Householder of the One of Six 六一居士[2] in his old age. Due to the multi-faceted nature of his talents, he would be regarded in Western parlance as a Renaissance man.[3]
Ouyang was one of the major players in the Qingli Reforms of the 1040s and was in charge of creating the New History of the Tang Dynasty. He was also regarded as one of the great masters of prose of the Tang and Song era. He was also a noted writer of both shi and ci poetry.
Poetry
Deep in Spring, the Rain's Passed (Picking Mulberries) [20]
Deep in spring, the rain's passed- West Lake is good.
A hundred grasses vie in beauty,
Confusion of butterflies, clamour of bees,
The clear day hurries the blossom to burst forth in the warmth.
Oars in lilies, a painted barge moving without haste.
I think I see a band of sprites-
Light reflected in the ripples,
The high wind carries music over the broad water.
採桑子
春深雨過西湖好，
百卉爭妍，
蝶亂蜂喧，
晴日催花暖欲然。
蘭橈晝舸悠悠去，
疑是神仙。
返照波間，
水闊風高颺管絃。
Notes
[1]^ 8th day of the 8th month of Xining 5 (熙寧五年八月八日), which corresponds to September 22, 1072 in the Julian calendar.
[2]^ He once explained to a guest that in his house he had 10,000 folios of books which he had collected, 1,000 scrolls of inscriptions dated as early as the Xia, Shang and Western Zhou, one Guqin, one chess set, and usually one pot of wine. When the guest said this was just one of five, he replied, I am an old man amongst these five; does that not make six? Liuyi Jushi Zhuan 414
[3]^ a b "Ouyang Xiu". The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry Web Companion. Whittier College. 2004. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
[20]^ "Ouyang Xiu English Translations". 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/歐陽脩
People: Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072)
China: Ouyang Xiu (歐陽脩, 1007-1072)
人物: 歐陽脩 (Ouyang Xiu, 1007-1072)
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Ouyang.
Ouyang Xiu (simplified Chinese: 欧阳修; traditional Chinese: 歐陽脩; pinyin: Ōuyáng Xiū; Wade–Giles: Ou-yang Hsiu) (1007 – September 22, 1072[1]) was a Chinese statesman, historian, essayist, calligrapher and poet of the Song Dynasty. He is also known by his courtesy name of Yongshu, and was also self nicknamed The Old Drunkard 醉翁, or Householder of the One of Six 六一居士[2] in his old age. Due to the multi-faceted nature of his talents, he would be regarded in Western parlance as a Renaissance man.[3]
Ouyang was one of the major players in the Qingli Reforms of the 1040s and was in charge of creating the New History of the Tang Dynasty. He was also regarded as one of the great masters of prose of the Tang and Song era. He was also a noted writer of both shi and ci poetry.
Poetry
Deep in Spring, the Rain's Passed (Picking Mulberries) [20]
Deep in spring, the rain's passed- West Lake is good.
A hundred grasses vie in beauty,
Confusion of butterflies, clamour of bees,
The clear day hurries the blossom to burst forth in the warmth.
Oars in lilies, a painted barge moving without haste.
I think I see a band of sprites-
Light reflected in the ripples,
The high wind carries music over the broad water.
採桑子
春深雨過西湖好，
百卉爭妍，
蝶亂蜂喧，
晴日催花暖欲然。
蘭橈晝舸悠悠去，
疑是神仙。
返照波間，
水闊風高颺管絃。
Notes
[1]^ 8th day of the 8th month of Xining 5 (熙寧五年八月八日), which corresponds to September 22, 1072 in the Julian calendar.
[2]^ He once explained to a guest that in his house he had 10,000 folios of books which he had collected, 1,000 scrolls of inscriptions dated as early as the Xia, Shang and Western Zhou, one Guqin, one chess set, and usually one pot of wine. When the guest said this was just one of five, he replied, I am an old man amongst these five; does that not make six? Liuyi Jushi Zhuan 414
[3]^ a b "Ouyang Xiu". The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry Web Companion. Whittier College. 2004. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
[20]^ "Ouyang Xiu English Translations". 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/歐陽脩
People: Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072)
China: Ouyang Xiu (歐陽脩, 1007-1072)
人物: 歐陽脩 (Ouyang Xiu, 1007-1072)
出奇制勝 (Making a surprise move)
Making a surprise move
During the Warring States Period (B.C. 403-221) in China, there was a general called Le Yi in the state of Yan, who was appointed to invade the state of Qi. As Le was a master of stratagem, he soon seized more than 70 cities of the country in a short period of time, but somehow just left out two cities called Mo Cheng and Lu Cheng.
Tian Shan was a brilliant commander in the state of Qi, who was determined to fight back and retrieved his country`s land. Tian certainly understood the challenge he had faced after all - the state of Yan was a very powerful country and there was only a little chance that Tian and his people could win the victory. However, the patriot was not willing to give up but immediately mobilized his people to fight back when Mo Cheng was overrun with Yan soldiers.
Tian came up with several strategies. He first assigned some folk to spread rumors that General Le in Yan disrespected his emperor. As soon as the rumors were fully circulated and heard by the emperor, Le was dismissed from the court as Tian expected. The commander then took an opportunity to attack Yan.
He assembled thousand cows, tied razor-sharp blades in their horns together with soaked reeds at their tails. One night at the Yan`s military camp, Tian and 5,000 soldiers stood behind the cows and lit a fire on the reeds. The cows sprinted to Yan soldiers and killed most of them. Tian, ultimately, helped Qi to win the victory and got back their lost lands.
Translation:
출기제승(出奇制勝）
출기出奇)：surprise
제(制)：prevail
승(勝)：victory
During the Warring States Period (B.C. 403-221) in China, there was a general called Le Yi in the state of Yan, who was appointed to invade the state of Qi. As Le was a master of stratagem, he soon seized more than 70 cities of the country in a short period of time, but somehow just left out two cities called Mo Cheng and Lu Cheng.
Tian Shan was a brilliant commander in the state of Qi, who was determined to fight back and retrieved his country`s land. Tian certainly understood the challenge he had faced after all - the state of Yan was a very powerful country and there was only a little chance that Tian and his people could win the victory. However, the patriot was not willing to give up but immediately mobilized his people to fight back when Mo Cheng was overrun with Yan soldiers.
Tian came up with several strategies. He first assigned some folk to spread rumors that General Le in Yan disrespected his emperor. As soon as the rumors were fully circulated and heard by the emperor, Le was dismissed from the court as Tian expected. The commander then took an opportunity to attack Yan.
He assembled thousand cows, tied razor-sharp blades in their horns together with soaked reeds at their tails. One night at the Yan`s military camp, Tian and 5,000 soldiers stood behind the cows and lit a fire on the reeds. The cows sprinted to Yan soldiers and killed most of them. Tian, ultimately, helped Qi to win the victory and got back their lost lands.
Translation:
출기제승(出奇制勝）
출기出奇)：surprise
제(制)：prevail
승(勝)：victory
Equipment: Nine Tripod Cauldrons
Equipment: Nine Tripod Cauldrons
According to legend the Nine Tripod Cauldrons (Chinese: 九鼎; pinyin: Jĭu Dĭng) were created following the foundation of the Xia Dynasty (c. 2200 BCE) by Yu the Great, using tribute metal presented by the governors of the Nine Provinces of ancient China.
 |
| A tripod cauldron or ding from the late Shang Dynasty |
According to legend the Nine Tripod Cauldrons (Chinese: 九鼎; pinyin: Jĭu Dĭng) were created following the foundation of the Xia Dynasty (c. 2200 BCE) by Yu the Great, using tribute metal presented by the governors of the Nine Provinces of ancient China.
Mount Penglai (蓬萊山)
Mount Penglai (蓬萊山)
Alternative Names (異名):
蓬萊山(traditional Chinese), 蓬莱山(simplified Chinese), Pénglái shān(pinyin), Mount Penglai, 蓬萊仙島(traditional Chinese), 蓬莱仙岛(simplified Chinese), Pénglái xiāndǎo(pinyin), Penglai Island
Mount Penglai (traditional Chinese: 蓬萊山; simplified Chinese: 蓬莱山; pinyin: Pénglái shān), or Penglai Island (traditional Chinese: 蓬萊仙島; simplified Chinese: 蓬莱仙岛; pinyin: Pénglái xiāndǎo), is a mystical land found in Chinese mythology. The legend also passed into Japan, where it took shape as the Legend of Horai (蓬莱, Hōrai).
Location
According to Shan Hai Jing, the mountain is said to be on an island in the eastern end of Bohai Sea, along with four other islands where the immortals lived, called Fāngzhàng (方丈), Yíngzhōu (瀛州), Dàiyú (岱輿), and Yuánjiāo (員嬌).
Though a Penglai City exists in Shandong, China, whether or not the city was the actual spot as described in the legends is unknown. The city, however, prides itself for the legend, and claims that a certain scenic region in the city was the landing point of the Eight Immortals. Others claim that the mountain can be seen in form of the frequent mirages at sea that the city is famous for.
Another theory by Yichu (義楚) of Later Zhou Dynasty puts the fabled island as Japan, while Penglai Mountain is Mount Fuji.
In Chinese mythology
In Chinese mythology, the mountain is often said to be the base for the Eight Immortals, or at least where they travel to have a banquet. Supposedly, everything on the mountain seems white, while its palaces are made from gold and platinum, and jewelries grow on trees.
There is no pain and no winter; there are rice bowls and wine glasses that never become empty no matter how much people eat or drink from them; and there are magical fruits growing in Horai that can heal any disease, grant eternal youth, and even raise the dead.
Historically, Qin Shi Huang, in search of the elixir of life, made several attempts to find the island where the mountain is located, to no avail. Legends tell that Xu Fu, one servant sent to find the island, found Japan instead.
In Japanese mythology
The Japanese conception of Horai, as presented in Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, was somewhat different from the earlier idyllic Chinese myth. The Japanese version rejects much of the fantastic and magical properties of Horai. In the Japanese myth, Horai is not free from sorrow or death, and the winters are bitterly cold. The Japanese conception of Horai holds that there are no magical fruits that cure disease, grant eternal youth or raise the dead, and no rice bowls or wine glasses that never become empty.
The Japanese incarnation of the myth of Horai focuses more on the atmosphere of the place, which is said to be made up not of air but of "quintillions of quintillions" of souls. Breathing in these souls is said to grant one all of the perceptions and knowledge of these ancient souls. The Japanese version also holds that the people of Horai are small fairies, and they have no knowledge of great evil, and so their hearts never grow old.
In the Kwaidan, there is some indication that the Japanese hold such a place to be merely a fantasy. It is pointed out that "Horai is also called Shinkiro, which signifies Mirage — the Vision of the Intangible."
In popular culture
The main setting of the fourth InuYasha movie, Fire on the Mystic Island, Horai appears as an island that appears every fifty years and is meant as a haven for Yōkai and human lovers and their children. Residents of Horai never age, and every year, a yokai must sacrifice itself to the Meidou no Kama, a giant cauldron leading to Hell, to protect the island's other inhabitants.
In the Touhou Project, many elements in the games have names that allude to Horai.
In The Twelve Kingdoms, Horai is the name given by the people in the Twelve Kingdoms to describe Japan.
In the manga Ranma ½, Mount Horai is the location of the battle between Ranma Saotome who is locked in his cursed girlform fights with the Herb, prince of the Musk Dynasty who is also locked in his cursed female form. Both are fighting for the possession of the Kaisufu, a magical kettle that can unlock their curses. Interestingly enough, the peak of Horai is depicted as a kettle-shaped rock with a magical hot spring, with water heated by the magic kettle, flowing from the spout.
In the video game, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, there is a level called "Peng Lai Mountains", and the supposed mystical mountain itself holds the headquarters of the plot's main enemy organization, the Black Dragon Triad.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Penglai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Fictional mountains | Fictional islands | Japanese mythology | Mythological places | Utopias
Alternative Names (異名):
蓬萊山(traditional Chinese), 蓬莱山(simplified Chinese), Pénglái shān(pinyin), Mount Penglai, 蓬萊仙島(traditional Chinese), 蓬莱仙岛(simplified Chinese), Pénglái xiāndǎo(pinyin), Penglai Island
Mount Penglai (traditional Chinese: 蓬萊山; simplified Chinese: 蓬莱山; pinyin: Pénglái shān), or Penglai Island (traditional Chinese: 蓬萊仙島; simplified Chinese: 蓬莱仙岛; pinyin: Pénglái xiāndǎo), is a mystical land found in Chinese mythology. The legend also passed into Japan, where it took shape as the Legend of Horai (蓬莱, Hōrai).
Location
According to Shan Hai Jing, the mountain is said to be on an island in the eastern end of Bohai Sea, along with four other islands where the immortals lived, called Fāngzhàng (方丈), Yíngzhōu (瀛州), Dàiyú (岱輿), and Yuánjiāo (員嬌).
Though a Penglai City exists in Shandong, China, whether or not the city was the actual spot as described in the legends is unknown. The city, however, prides itself for the legend, and claims that a certain scenic region in the city was the landing point of the Eight Immortals. Others claim that the mountain can be seen in form of the frequent mirages at sea that the city is famous for.
Another theory by Yichu (義楚) of Later Zhou Dynasty puts the fabled island as Japan, while Penglai Mountain is Mount Fuji.
In Chinese mythology
In Chinese mythology, the mountain is often said to be the base for the Eight Immortals, or at least where they travel to have a banquet. Supposedly, everything on the mountain seems white, while its palaces are made from gold and platinum, and jewelries grow on trees.
There is no pain and no winter; there are rice bowls and wine glasses that never become empty no matter how much people eat or drink from them; and there are magical fruits growing in Horai that can heal any disease, grant eternal youth, and even raise the dead.
Historically, Qin Shi Huang, in search of the elixir of life, made several attempts to find the island where the mountain is located, to no avail. Legends tell that Xu Fu, one servant sent to find the island, found Japan instead.
In Japanese mythology
The Japanese conception of Horai, as presented in Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, was somewhat different from the earlier idyllic Chinese myth. The Japanese version rejects much of the fantastic and magical properties of Horai. In the Japanese myth, Horai is not free from sorrow or death, and the winters are bitterly cold. The Japanese conception of Horai holds that there are no magical fruits that cure disease, grant eternal youth or raise the dead, and no rice bowls or wine glasses that never become empty.
The Japanese incarnation of the myth of Horai focuses more on the atmosphere of the place, which is said to be made up not of air but of "quintillions of quintillions" of souls. Breathing in these souls is said to grant one all of the perceptions and knowledge of these ancient souls. The Japanese version also holds that the people of Horai are small fairies, and they have no knowledge of great evil, and so their hearts never grow old.
In the Kwaidan, there is some indication that the Japanese hold such a place to be merely a fantasy. It is pointed out that "Horai is also called Shinkiro, which signifies Mirage — the Vision of the Intangible."
In popular culture
The main setting of the fourth InuYasha movie, Fire on the Mystic Island, Horai appears as an island that appears every fifty years and is meant as a haven for Yōkai and human lovers and their children. Residents of Horai never age, and every year, a yokai must sacrifice itself to the Meidou no Kama, a giant cauldron leading to Hell, to protect the island's other inhabitants.
In the Touhou Project, many elements in the games have names that allude to Horai.
In The Twelve Kingdoms, Horai is the name given by the people in the Twelve Kingdoms to describe Japan.
In the manga Ranma ½, Mount Horai is the location of the battle between Ranma Saotome who is locked in his cursed girlform fights with the Herb, prince of the Musk Dynasty who is also locked in his cursed female form. Both are fighting for the possession of the Kaisufu, a magical kettle that can unlock their curses. Interestingly enough, the peak of Horai is depicted as a kettle-shaped rock with a magical hot spring, with water heated by the magic kettle, flowing from the spout.
In the video game, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, there is a level called "Peng Lai Mountains", and the supposed mystical mountain itself holds the headquarters of the plot's main enemy organization, the Black Dragon Triad.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Penglai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Fictional mountains | Fictional islands | Japanese mythology | Mythological places | Utopias
趙飛燕 (Zhao Feiyan)
Zhao Feiyan (趙飛燕, c. 32–1 BC)
Zhao Feiyan (Chinese: 趙飛燕, c. 32–1 BC),[1] formally Empress Xiaocheng (孝成皇后), was an empress during the Han Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Cheng.[2] She was known in the Chinese popular mindset more for her beauty than for the palace intrigue that she and her sister, the also beautiful Consort Zhao Hede engaged in, but unlike most of the famous beauties in Chinese history (such as the Four Beauties), she was often vilified by historians. She was often compared and contrasted with Yang Guifei, the beautiful concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, because she was known for her slender build while Yang was known for her full build. This led to the Chinese idiom yanshou huanfei (燕瘦環肥), describing the range of the types of beauties.
Notes
[1]^ a b c d e Peterson, Barbara Bennett & He Hong Fei & Han Tie & Wang Jiyu & Zhang Guangyu. (1999) Notable Women of China "M.E. Sharpe". pp. 87-90. ISBN 0-7656-0504-X.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Feiyan
Zhao Feiyan (Chinese: 趙飛燕, c. 32–1 BC),[1] formally Empress Xiaocheng (孝成皇后), was an empress during the Han Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Cheng.[2] She was known in the Chinese popular mindset more for her beauty than for the palace intrigue that she and her sister, the also beautiful Consort Zhao Hede engaged in, but unlike most of the famous beauties in Chinese history (such as the Four Beauties), she was often vilified by historians. She was often compared and contrasted with Yang Guifei, the beautiful concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, because she was known for her slender build while Yang was known for her full build. This led to the Chinese idiom yanshou huanfei (燕瘦環肥), describing the range of the types of beauties.
Notes
[1]^ a b c d e Peterson, Barbara Bennett & He Hong Fei & Han Tie & Wang Jiyu & Zhang Guangyu. (1999) Notable Women of China "M.E. Sharpe". pp. 87-90. ISBN 0-7656-0504-X.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Feiyan
Mazu (媽祖)
Mazu (媽祖)
Alternative Names (異名):
媽祖(traditional Chinese), Māzǔ(Hanyu Pinyin), Ma-tsu(Wade-Giles), Má-chó(Pe̍h-ōe-jī), Mazu, Matsu, Mother-Ancestor(literally)
Mazu (traditional Chinese: 媽祖; Hanyu Pinyin: Māzǔ; Wade-Giles: Ma-tsu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Má-chó·; literally "Mother-Ancestor"), also spelt Matsu, is the Taoist goddess of the sea who protects fishermen and sailors, and is revered as the patron saint who protects East Asians who are associated with the ocean.
Her mortal name is Lin Moniang (Chinese: 林默娘; pinyin: Lín Mòniáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Be̍k-niû).
She is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.
Names
Popular names:
Mazu (媽祖, literally "Mother-Ancestor"), or Mazu-po (媽祖婆, "Elder Lady Mazu")
Tian Hou (天后, literally "Heavenly Empress" or "Heavenly Queen") or Thiên Hậu in Vietnamese
Tian Fei (天妃, literally "Heavenly Princess Consort")
A-Ma (阿媽, "Grandmother")
Tianshang Shengmu or Tianhou Shengmu (天上聖母, 天后聖母, both meaning "Heavenly Holy Mother") or Thiên Hậu Thánh Mẫu in Vietnamese
Official titles:
In Southern Song Danasty, she was given the first Title as "Princess of Supernatural Favour" in A.D. 1155 by Emperor Gaozong of Song.
In the Yuan Dynasty, she was officially the "Protector of the Empire and the Brilliantly Outstanding Heavenly Princess" (護國明著天妃 Huguo Mingzhu Tianfei).
In Ming Dynasty, she was given as "Holy Mother of Heaven Above" in 1417 by the Yongle Emperor.
In the Qing Dynasty, she was made the "Heavenly Empress" (天后; Mandarin: Tiān Hòu; Cantonese: Tin Hau'). Her last imperial title was given as "Holy Mother in Heaven" in 1839 by the Daoguang Emperor.
The person
According to legend, Lin Moniang was born in 960 (during the early Northern Song Dynasty) as the seventh daughter of Lin Yuan (林愿) on Meizhou Island, Fujian. She did not cry when she was born, and thus her given name means "Silent Girl."
There are many legends about her and the sea.
Although she started swimming relatively late at the age of 15, she soon became an excellent swimmer. She wore red standing on the shore to guide fishing boats home, even in the most dangerous and harsh weather.
According to one legend, Lin Moniang's father and brothers were fishermen. One day, a terrible typhoon arose while they were out at sea, and the rest of her family feared that those at sea had perished. In the midst of this storm, depending on the version of the legend, she either fell into a trance while praying for the lives of her father and brothers or dreamed of her father and brothers while she was sleeping. In either the trance or the dream, her father and brothers were drowning, and she reached out to them, holding her brothers up with her hands and her father up with her mouth. However, Moniang's mother now discovered her and tried to wake her, but Moniang was in such a deep trance or dream that it seemed like she was dead. Moniang's mother, already believing the rest of their family dead, now broke down, crying, believing that Moniang had also just died. Hearing her mother's cries, in pity, Moniang gave a small cry to let her mother know she was alive, but in opening her mouth, she was forced to drop her father. Consequently, Moniang's brothers returned alive (sadly without their father) and told the other villagers that a miracle had happened and that they had somehow been held up in the water as a typhoon raged.
There are at least two versions of Lin Moniang's death. In one version, she died in 987 at the age of 28, when she climbed a mountain alone and flew to heaven and became a goddess. Another version of the legend says that she died at age 16 of exhaustion after swimming far into the ocean trying to find her lost father and that her corpse later washed ashore in Nankan Island of the Matsu Islands.
Lin Moniang (2000), a minor Fujianese TV series, is a dramatization of the life of Mazu as a mortal.
The goddess
After her death, the families of many fishermen and sailors began to pray to her in honor of her acts of courage in trying to save those at sea. Her worship spread quickly. Much of her popularity in comparison to other sea deities resulted from her role as a compassionate motherly protector, in contrast to authoritarian father figures like the Dragon Kings. She is usually depicted wearing a red robe, and sitting on a throne. As often happens to revered folk heroes in Chinese culture, she became an empress figure during the Yuan Dynasty.
Worship
Starting from Fujian, worship of Mazu spread to the neighbouring coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong, and thence to all coastal areas of mainland China. With emigration and especially the Chinese diaspora of the 19th and 20th centuries, it further spread to Taiwan, Vietnam, Ryukyu, Japan, and South East Asia; the role of Mazu as patron of the seas ensured that newly arrived immigrants often erected temples to her first, to give thanks for arriving safely. Today, worship of Mazu is also found in other countries with sizeable populations from these regions. In total, there are around 1,500 Mazu temples in 26 countries of the world.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, around 60 temples are dedicated, at least partially to Tin Hau. The temple in the Tin Hau area, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island, has given its name to the area and to the MTR station serving it (Island Line). The Tin Hau Temple is one of the declared monuments of Hong Kong. Because of their historic significance, many Tin Hau Temples in Hong Kong were graded historic buildings.
Macau
Macau has three Tin Hau temples (one per Coloane, Macau Peninsula, and Taipa). The name Macau is thought to be derived from the Templo de A-Má (A-Ma Temple) (媽閣廟, Cantonese Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3 Miu6, local pronunciation: Maa5 Gok3 Miu6 or Maa5 Gok3 Miu5), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Mazu.
Mainland China
Aside from Fujian, there are more than 40 temples dedicated to Mazu in Guangdong and Hainan, and more than 30 in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In northern China, there are large Mazu temples in Tianjin, Weihai, Yingkou, Qinhuangdao, Qingdao, Changdao Islands (also named "Temple Islands" after the Mazu temple there), and Penglai.
In Nanjing, the Tian Fei Palace was built by the Yongle Emperor in the Ming Dynasty, at the instigation of Admiral Zheng He after returning from his first expedition. Before and after each expedition, Zheng He would worship at the temple for Mazu's protection. Because it was a state temple built by the Emperor, this temple was the largest and enjoyed the highest status of all Mazu temples in the country. The temple was largely destroyed by Japanese bombings in 1937, but is currently being rebuilt.
In Shanghai, historically here were three principal Tian Hou Temples. During the Qing Dynasty, it was customary for diplomats departing by sea to worship at the Tian Hou Palace in the old city. All of these were progressively destroyed. The last, on the banks of the Suzhou Creek, was moved to Songjiang. This temple is now dedicated to the "Mazu of the Huangpu River". The City God Temple in the old city is also partially dedicated to Mazu.
Fujian
In Putian, the legendary birthplace of Mazu, there are hundreds of temples dedicated to the goddess, including about 20 on Meizhou island alone.
Elsewhere in Fujian, there are about 70 temples dedicated to Mazu, mostly concentrated in the coastal areas.
Heavenly Empress Temple-Meizhou Ancestral Temple (天后宮湄洲祖廟) is on her native Meizhou Island.
Malaysia
Malaysia has a long history of Taoist religion ever since the Chinese from Southern China settled in South East Asia region. The famous Thean Hou Temple(Chinese:马来西亚吉隆坡天后宫) situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Capital of Malaysia is a famous tourist destination in Asia. Few tenths thousand of other temples and statues are found throughout the country.
Every year, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is celebrated heavily especially in Penang; and the Birthday of Mazu celebrated throughout the country.
A mega project to build the world tallest Mazu statue at Northernmost tip of Borneo, Kudat was officially launched by the leader and people of Sabah recently . The statue was to measure at 10-storey high and would draw millions of tourists to the country every year. This project has however been cancelled due to protests from a few Muslims in Sabah and some political interference.
Singapore
The worship of Mazu was brought to Singapore from China by the influx of Chinese immigrants during the 19th century, a large proportion of whom came from Fujian. Two of the oldest and best known Chinese temples in Singapore, Thian Hock Keng and Yueh Hai Ching Temple, were both dedicated mainly to Mazu, and in the 19th century were frequented by immigrants who came to give thanks after a safe sea voyage from China.
Taiwan
There are about 800 to 1000 Taiwanese temples dedicated entirely or--more often--partly to Mazu. The oldest one is Great Queen of Heaven Temple (zh:大天后宮), Tainan City.
Chenlan Temple (zh:鎮瀾宮) in Tachia, Taichung County, is the most famous Mazu temple in Taiwan, and an annual pilgrimage takes place there each spring. Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) of Peikang Township (北港鎮) in Yunlin is another popular temple of Mazu in Taiwan.
There is also a major temple in Makung, on the Pescadores Islands.
Thailand
In Thailand, there are a lots of Mazu temples too, especially in cities near the sea such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Pattani, and Phuket. Many Thai Chinese worship the goddess, and some visit Fujian, China to worship her at her place of origin.
United States
Chùa Bà Thiên HậuMazu has gained popularity in the west as well. Many temples are dedicated to Mazu in Chinatowns in the United States. The oldest Taoist temple in the United States, Tin How Temple in San Francisco, built in 1852, is dedicated to Mazu. Another Mazu temple that has gained popularity in the west is located in Los Angeles, where many South East Asians are known to reside in or nearby. Known as Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu and home to the Camau Association of America, a Chinese/Vietnamese/Teochew benevolent association, it has become an immensely popular tourist attraction in Chinatown after being completed on September 5, 2005 after two years of building and an investment of around $2m. It features such attrtactions as annual 24-hour lion dances and a legal firecracker display on Chinese New Year's Eve.
Animation
媽祖 - 海之傳說
See also
Chinese mythology
Tin Hau, Hong Kong
Guan Yin
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Chinese goddesses | Mother goddesses | Sea and river goddesses
Alternative Names (異名):
媽祖(traditional Chinese), Māzǔ(Hanyu Pinyin), Ma-tsu(Wade-Giles), Má-chó(Pe̍h-ōe-jī), Mazu, Matsu, Mother-Ancestor(literally)
Mazu (traditional Chinese: 媽祖; Hanyu Pinyin: Māzǔ; Wade-Giles: Ma-tsu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Má-chó·; literally "Mother-Ancestor"), also spelt Matsu, is the Taoist goddess of the sea who protects fishermen and sailors, and is revered as the patron saint who protects East Asians who are associated with the ocean.
Her mortal name is Lin Moniang (Chinese: 林默娘; pinyin: Lín Mòniáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Be̍k-niû).
She is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.
Names
Popular names:
Mazu (媽祖, literally "Mother-Ancestor"), or Mazu-po (媽祖婆, "Elder Lady Mazu")
Tian Hou (天后, literally "Heavenly Empress" or "Heavenly Queen") or Thiên Hậu in Vietnamese
Tian Fei (天妃, literally "Heavenly Princess Consort")
A-Ma (阿媽, "Grandmother")
Tianshang Shengmu or Tianhou Shengmu (天上聖母, 天后聖母, both meaning "Heavenly Holy Mother") or Thiên Hậu Thánh Mẫu in Vietnamese
Official titles:
In Southern Song Danasty, she was given the first Title as "Princess of Supernatural Favour" in A.D. 1155 by Emperor Gaozong of Song.
In the Yuan Dynasty, she was officially the "Protector of the Empire and the Brilliantly Outstanding Heavenly Princess" (護國明著天妃 Huguo Mingzhu Tianfei).
In Ming Dynasty, she was given as "Holy Mother of Heaven Above" in 1417 by the Yongle Emperor.
In the Qing Dynasty, she was made the "Heavenly Empress" (天后; Mandarin: Tiān Hòu; Cantonese: Tin Hau'). Her last imperial title was given as "Holy Mother in Heaven" in 1839 by the Daoguang Emperor.
The person
According to legend, Lin Moniang was born in 960 (during the early Northern Song Dynasty) as the seventh daughter of Lin Yuan (林愿) on Meizhou Island, Fujian. She did not cry when she was born, and thus her given name means "Silent Girl."
There are many legends about her and the sea.
Although she started swimming relatively late at the age of 15, she soon became an excellent swimmer. She wore red standing on the shore to guide fishing boats home, even in the most dangerous and harsh weather.
According to one legend, Lin Moniang's father and brothers were fishermen. One day, a terrible typhoon arose while they were out at sea, and the rest of her family feared that those at sea had perished. In the midst of this storm, depending on the version of the legend, she either fell into a trance while praying for the lives of her father and brothers or dreamed of her father and brothers while she was sleeping. In either the trance or the dream, her father and brothers were drowning, and she reached out to them, holding her brothers up with her hands and her father up with her mouth. However, Moniang's mother now discovered her and tried to wake her, but Moniang was in such a deep trance or dream that it seemed like she was dead. Moniang's mother, already believing the rest of their family dead, now broke down, crying, believing that Moniang had also just died. Hearing her mother's cries, in pity, Moniang gave a small cry to let her mother know she was alive, but in opening her mouth, she was forced to drop her father. Consequently, Moniang's brothers returned alive (sadly without their father) and told the other villagers that a miracle had happened and that they had somehow been held up in the water as a typhoon raged.
There are at least two versions of Lin Moniang's death. In one version, she died in 987 at the age of 28, when she climbed a mountain alone and flew to heaven and became a goddess. Another version of the legend says that she died at age 16 of exhaustion after swimming far into the ocean trying to find her lost father and that her corpse later washed ashore in Nankan Island of the Matsu Islands.
Lin Moniang (2000), a minor Fujianese TV series, is a dramatization of the life of Mazu as a mortal.
The goddess
After her death, the families of many fishermen and sailors began to pray to her in honor of her acts of courage in trying to save those at sea. Her worship spread quickly. Much of her popularity in comparison to other sea deities resulted from her role as a compassionate motherly protector, in contrast to authoritarian father figures like the Dragon Kings. She is usually depicted wearing a red robe, and sitting on a throne. As often happens to revered folk heroes in Chinese culture, she became an empress figure during the Yuan Dynasty.
Worship
Starting from Fujian, worship of Mazu spread to the neighbouring coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong, and thence to all coastal areas of mainland China. With emigration and especially the Chinese diaspora of the 19th and 20th centuries, it further spread to Taiwan, Vietnam, Ryukyu, Japan, and South East Asia; the role of Mazu as patron of the seas ensured that newly arrived immigrants often erected temples to her first, to give thanks for arriving safely. Today, worship of Mazu is also found in other countries with sizeable populations from these regions. In total, there are around 1,500 Mazu temples in 26 countries of the world.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, around 60 temples are dedicated, at least partially to Tin Hau. The temple in the Tin Hau area, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island, has given its name to the area and to the MTR station serving it (Island Line). The Tin Hau Temple is one of the declared monuments of Hong Kong. Because of their historic significance, many Tin Hau Temples in Hong Kong were graded historic buildings.
Macau
Macau has three Tin Hau temples (one per Coloane, Macau Peninsula, and Taipa). The name Macau is thought to be derived from the Templo de A-Má (A-Ma Temple) (媽閣廟, Cantonese Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3 Miu6, local pronunciation: Maa5 Gok3 Miu6 or Maa5 Gok3 Miu5), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Mazu.
Mainland China
Aside from Fujian, there are more than 40 temples dedicated to Mazu in Guangdong and Hainan, and more than 30 in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In northern China, there are large Mazu temples in Tianjin, Weihai, Yingkou, Qinhuangdao, Qingdao, Changdao Islands (also named "Temple Islands" after the Mazu temple there), and Penglai.
In Nanjing, the Tian Fei Palace was built by the Yongle Emperor in the Ming Dynasty, at the instigation of Admiral Zheng He after returning from his first expedition. Before and after each expedition, Zheng He would worship at the temple for Mazu's protection. Because it was a state temple built by the Emperor, this temple was the largest and enjoyed the highest status of all Mazu temples in the country. The temple was largely destroyed by Japanese bombings in 1937, but is currently being rebuilt.
In Shanghai, historically here were three principal Tian Hou Temples. During the Qing Dynasty, it was customary for diplomats departing by sea to worship at the Tian Hou Palace in the old city. All of these were progressively destroyed. The last, on the banks of the Suzhou Creek, was moved to Songjiang. This temple is now dedicated to the "Mazu of the Huangpu River". The City God Temple in the old city is also partially dedicated to Mazu.
Fujian
In Putian, the legendary birthplace of Mazu, there are hundreds of temples dedicated to the goddess, including about 20 on Meizhou island alone.
Elsewhere in Fujian, there are about 70 temples dedicated to Mazu, mostly concentrated in the coastal areas.
Heavenly Empress Temple-Meizhou Ancestral Temple (天后宮湄洲祖廟) is on her native Meizhou Island.
Malaysia
Malaysia has a long history of Taoist religion ever since the Chinese from Southern China settled in South East Asia region. The famous Thean Hou Temple(Chinese:马来西亚吉隆坡天后宫) situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Capital of Malaysia is a famous tourist destination in Asia. Few tenths thousand of other temples and statues are found throughout the country.
Every year, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is celebrated heavily especially in Penang; and the Birthday of Mazu celebrated throughout the country.
A mega project to build the world tallest Mazu statue at Northernmost tip of Borneo, Kudat was officially launched by the leader and people of Sabah recently . The statue was to measure at 10-storey high and would draw millions of tourists to the country every year. This project has however been cancelled due to protests from a few Muslims in Sabah and some political interference.
Singapore
The worship of Mazu was brought to Singapore from China by the influx of Chinese immigrants during the 19th century, a large proportion of whom came from Fujian. Two of the oldest and best known Chinese temples in Singapore, Thian Hock Keng and Yueh Hai Ching Temple, were both dedicated mainly to Mazu, and in the 19th century were frequented by immigrants who came to give thanks after a safe sea voyage from China.
Taiwan
There are about 800 to 1000 Taiwanese temples dedicated entirely or--more often--partly to Mazu. The oldest one is Great Queen of Heaven Temple (zh:大天后宮), Tainan City.
Chenlan Temple (zh:鎮瀾宮) in Tachia, Taichung County, is the most famous Mazu temple in Taiwan, and an annual pilgrimage takes place there each spring. Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) of Peikang Township (北港鎮) in Yunlin is another popular temple of Mazu in Taiwan.
There is also a major temple in Makung, on the Pescadores Islands.
Thailand
In Thailand, there are a lots of Mazu temples too, especially in cities near the sea such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Pattani, and Phuket. Many Thai Chinese worship the goddess, and some visit Fujian, China to worship her at her place of origin.
United States
Chùa Bà Thiên HậuMazu has gained popularity in the west as well. Many temples are dedicated to Mazu in Chinatowns in the United States. The oldest Taoist temple in the United States, Tin How Temple in San Francisco, built in 1852, is dedicated to Mazu. Another Mazu temple that has gained popularity in the west is located in Los Angeles, where many South East Asians are known to reside in or nearby. Known as Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu and home to the Camau Association of America, a Chinese/Vietnamese/Teochew benevolent association, it has become an immensely popular tourist attraction in Chinatown after being completed on September 5, 2005 after two years of building and an investment of around $2m. It features such attrtactions as annual 24-hour lion dances and a legal firecracker display on Chinese New Year's Eve.
Animation
See also
Chinese mythology
Tin Hau, Hong Kong
Guan Yin
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Chinese goddesses | Mother goddesses | Sea and river goddesses
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