who is a widely worshiped Goddess in Taiwan,  Mainland China, and other Asian regions.

她是台灣、中國大陸和其他亞洲地區廣泛崇拜的女神。

Even though she's super popular in  East Asia, not a lot of people in  

儘管她在東亞非常受歡迎，但在英語世界

the English-speaking world know about her. Most of the info about Mazu is in Chinese. 

卻沒有多少人 了解她。 關於媽祖的資訊大多是中文的。

Lucky for you, I speak Chinese, so I  thought it'd be awesome to gather some  

你很幸運，我會說中文，所以我認為收集一些關於她的有趣事實

cool facts about her and share them with you  in English. So, are you ready? Let's dive in!

並用英語與你分享會很棒 。 那麼，你準備好了嗎？讓我們深入了解吧！

Mazu, also known as the Lin Moniang, is  a revered deity in Chinese folk belief.

媽祖，又稱林默娘，是中華民間信仰中備受尊崇的神明。

The belief in Mazu has spread  throughout the coastal regions of  

媽祖信仰遍佈 浙江、福建

Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan,  the Shandong Peninsula, and Tianjin.

廣東、海南、山東半島、天津等沿海地區 。

It has also been transmitted to Taiwan, the  Ryukyu Islands, mainland Japan, Singapore,  

該信仰也透過來自這些地區的移民傳播到台灣、琉球群島、日本大陸

and beyond by immigrants from these areas.

、新加坡等地。

Originally named Lin Moniang,  

媽祖原名林默娘，

Mazu is also known as the Heavenly holy  Mother（天上聖母）, and by several other titles.

又被稱為天上聖母，並有其他幾個聖號。

Mazu's story began in 960 AD on Meizhou  Island, where she was born to the Lin  

媽祖的故事始於西元960年，她出生於湄洲島的林氏家族。

family. From a young age, she was said  to displayed supernatural abilities,  

據說她從小就展現出超自然的能力，

leading a life devoted to spiritual practice.

一生致力於靈性修行。

Renowned for her intelligence and taciturn nature,  

她以智慧和沈默寡言而聞名，

she was a practitioner of both Taoism and  Buddhism who is said to have used her deep  

是道教和佛教的修行者，據說她用自己深刻的

spiritual insights and powers to predict and  influence the fortunes and misfortunes of  

精神洞察力和力量來預測和影響水手和漁民的命運

sailors and fishermen, guiding them away  from storms and leading them to safety.

，引導他們遠離風暴並引導他們以確保安全。

Her ability to forecast weather and protect  those at sea earned her the title of Sea Goddess,  

她預測天氣和保護海上人員的能力為她贏得了海洋女神的稱號，

with countless temples and shrines dedicated  to her worship, especially in coastal regions.

無數的寺廟和神社致力於崇拜她，特別是在沿海地區。

After her death, Mazu is said to have ascended  to heaven and become a goddess due to her acts  

據說媽祖死後，因她的勇敢和善良而升天成為女神

of bravery and kindness. It's said that she  continued to protect sailors and fishermen,  

。據說她繼續保護水手和漁民，

appearing to them in visions or  dreams to guide them away from danger.

在幻像或夢中出現在他們面前，引導他們遠離危險。

There are even legends where she  manifests in the tumultuous seas as  

甚至有傳說，她在洶湧的大海中化身

a beautiful woman in red, calming storms  and safeguarding sailors and fishermen.

美麗的紅衣女子，平息風浪，保護水手和漁民。

This led to widespread veneration as a  protective goddess of the sea. Mazu is perceived  

這導致了人們對海洋保護女神的廣泛崇拜。媽祖被認為

as a powerful and benevolent goddess, holding a  significant place in the hearts of her followers.

是一位強大而仁慈的女神，在她的追隨者心中佔有重要的地位。

Her worship was officially  recognized during the Song  

她的崇拜在宋代得到正式承認

dynasty, with her temples becoming  centers of religious activities.

，她的寺廟成為宗教活動的中心。

Mazu holds a place of special  reverence in Taiwanese society,  

媽祖在台灣社會中佔有特殊的地位，

especially through the notable  temples dedicated to her,  

特別是透過供奉她的著名寺廟，

such as Dajia Zhenlan Temple, Chaotian  Temple in Beigang, and several others.

如大甲鎮瀾宮、北港朝天宮等。

The Legends of Mazu

媽祖的傳說

There are many legends associated with Mazu,  

與媽祖有關的傳說有很多，

which highlight her miraculous powers and  benevolent acts, here are some of my favorites:

都彰顯了她的神通和仁慈，以下是我最喜歡的一些：

The Miraculous Rescue at  Sea with Astral Projection

媽祖靈魂出竅海上救父

While Mazu still living as a mortal named  Lin Moniang, in the year she turned 16,  

媽祖還是個凡人時，名叫林默娘，當年她16歲那年，

her father and brothers encountered a violent  storm at sea during a trading journey.

她的父親和兄弟在一次貿易旅行中遭遇了海上的猛烈風暴。

While she was at home weaving,  Lin Moniang sensed their distress.

在家織布的時候，林默娘感受到了他們的危難。

Instantly, she performed Astral Projection,  soaring over the ocean to their rescue.

她立刻施展靈魂出體大法，飛越大海去救他們。

She managed to hold onto her father with her arms,  

她用雙臂抓住了父親，

while gripping her brother's belt in her  mouth. Meanwhile, back at home, her mother  

同時用嘴咬住了哥哥的皮帶。同時，回到家裡，母親

found Lin Moniang motionless beside the loom and,  fearing the worst, began to cry out in despair.

發現林默娘在織布機旁一動也不動，擔心發生最壞的情況，絕望地哭了起來。

Lin Moniang quickly responded,  waking up with tears in her eyes,  

林默娘趕緊反應過來，眼裡含著淚水醒來，

and recounted the entire ordeal to her mother.

向母親講述了整個遭遇。

Three days later, her father  returned with the news that,  

三天后，父親回來帶來的消息是，

while she successfully saved her father,  her elder brother had tragically perished,  

她成功救了父親，而哥哥卻慘死，

exactly as Lin Moniang had described,  leading the family to realize that  

正如林莫娘所描述的那樣，讓家人知道

Lin Moniang was extraordinary, possessing  abilities beyond those of ordinary people.

林莫娘非同尋常，擁有超乎常人的能力

Battle with the Demons ( who  later became her guardian spirits)

與妖魔的戰鬥（後來成為她的護法）

There is a legend that once Mazu, saw a young  and beautiful girl being carried in a sedan  

相傳，有一次，媽祖看到一位年輕美麗的女孩被抬上轎子

chair to be offered as a sacrificial offering  to appease two powerful demons terrorizing a  

作為祭品，以平息兩個強大的威脅山村的妖魔

mountain village, demanding a beautiful girl as  a sacrifice each year to cease their misdeeds.

，要求每年都會有一個美麗的女孩作為犧牲品來交換停止他們的罪行。

Lin Moniang resolutely took the place of  the girl and was carried forward to the  

林默娘毅然代替了姑娘，被抬去祭祀

sacrifice. The two demons, delighted by Lin  Moniang's beauty and grace, were overjoyed.

。二魔被林默娘的美麗和雍容所欣喜，大喜過望。

However, she showed no fear  and solemnly told them,  

但她卻毫不畏懼，鄭重地告訴他們：

"You must abandon your wicked  ways and stop harming the people."

“你們必須放棄你們的惡行，不要再為害人民了。”

The two demons, considered her  merely a mortal woman, paid no heed.

兩個惡魔只把她當成一個凡人女子，沒有理會。

Lin Moniang, seeing that these  demons were stubborn and unrepentant,  

林默娘見這些妖魔頑固不化，

deemed it necessary to teach them a  lesson and challenge them to a battle.

覺得有必要教訓他們，因而應戰。

The demons, towering and as strong as oxen,  immediately took up a fighting stance.

那些高大如牛的妖魔，立刻擺出了戰鬥的姿態。

Unexpectedly, after only a few moves,  

沒想到，僅僅幾招，

they were all thwarted by Lin  Moniang, whose power was superior.

就被實力更勝一籌的林默娘挫敗了。

Realizing they were at a disadvantage and  attempting to retreat, Lin Moniang pointed  

二妖魔見勢不妙，想要撤退

her finger toward the sky, and a gigantic  rock weighing thousands of pounds flew down,  

此時林默娘手指向天，一塊重達數千斤的巨石飛落而下，

hovering above the heads of the demons.

盤旋在眾妖頭頂。

At this moment, the demons knelt and  begged for mercy, willing to renounce  

此時此刻，二魔跪地求饒，願放棄惡行

their evil ways and follow Mazu forever,  assisting her in her righteous deeds.

永遠跟隨媽祖，助她行善。

These two demons are now known as the guardian  

這兩個妖魔現在被稱為

spirits Qianliyan(千里眼) and Shen  Feng Er (順風耳) who assist Mazu.

輔助媽祖的守護神千里眼和順風耳。

Qianliyan(千里眼) can see anything  from thousands of miles away,  

千里眼能看見千里之外的一切，

his job is to watch over the world to  see who needs help and report to Mazu.

他的工作就是看遍天下，看看誰需要幫助，並向媽祖報告。

Shen Feng Er(順風耳) has the ability to  hear sounds from great distances his  

順風耳擁有遠方聽到聲音的能力，他的

job is to listen to the world's  cries and also report to Mazu

工作就是聆聽世間的呼聲，同時向媽祖報告。

They combined their exceptional powers,  with Qianliyan's unparalleled vision and  

他們結合了超凡的力量，千里眼的無雙視力和順

Shun Feng Er's extraordinary hearing,  to form a vigilant duo that serves Mazu,  

風兒的超凡聽覺，組成了一個警覺的隊伍。為媽祖服務的二人組，

ensuring no call for help goes unnoticed  and aiding in her mission to protect and  

確保任何求助信號都不會被忽視，並協助她完成保護和

assist those in peril, especially  across the vastness of the seas.

援助處於危險中的人們的使命，特別是在浩瀚的海洋上。

The legend of "Bomb Catching Mazu"

「炸彈媽祖」的傳說

This one is one of my favorites.

這是我最喜歡的之一。

The legend of "Bomb Mazu" emerges from a  period marked by the turmoil of World War II.

「炸彈媽祖」的傳說產生於二戰動亂時期。

During this time, Taiwan found  itself under Japanese rule,  

在此期間，台灣發現自己處於日本的統治之下，

a strategic outpost in the vast  Pacific theatre of conflict.

成為廣闊的太平洋衝突地區的戰略前哨。

As a consequence of its occupation,  the island became a target for  

由於其佔領，該島成為

American bombings aimed at crippling the  Japanese military's reach and resources.

美國轟炸的目標，旨在削弱日本軍隊的影響力和資源。

Amidst this backdrop of war and destruction,  where fear and uncertainty clouded daily  

在戰爭和破壞的背景下，恐懼和不確定性籠罩著日常生活

life, the legend of Mazu catching  a bomb transcends mere folklore.

，媽祖接炸彈的傳說超越了單純的民間傳說。

As the legend goes, in the northeastern part  of Zhu Tang Township's Wu Zhuang Village,  

相傳，竹塘鄉五庄村東北部

the area suffered heavily from  air raids by American planes.

曾遭受美軍飛機空襲。

It is said that at that time, the  American forces dropped a 500-pound bomb,  

據說，當時美軍投下了一枚500磅重的炸彈，

and a woman dressed in red appeared in the  sky, catching the bomb with her hands and feet.

天空中出現了一名紅衣女子，用手腳接住了炸彈。

Afterward, villagers discovered that  the statue of Mazu in the Pi Tou He  

事後，村民發現埤頭合興宮媽祖像

Xing Temple(埤頭合興宮) had a broken right  index finger and a left shoe fallen off.

右手食指斷裂，左腳鞋子脫落。

Therefore, the local residents believed  that the bomb was caught by Mazu,  

因此，當地居民認為炸彈是媽祖接住的，

which led to Mazu of the He Xing  Temple being called "Bomb Mazu."

導致和興宮的媽祖被稱為「炸彈媽」。

This story, known as "Bomb Mazu," is not unique to  Changhua but echoes through temples across Taiwan.

這個被稱為「炸彈媽」的故事並非彰化所獨有，而是在台灣各地的寺廟中迴響。

There are many versions of the story about “Bomb  Mazu” . Each version carries the same essence—a  

關於「炸彈媽」的故事有很多版本。每個版本都有相同的本質——

goddess's refusal to let her people suffer,  a testament to Mazu's enduring protection.

女神拒絕讓她的人民受苦，證明了媽祖的長久保護。

These tales weave a narrative of faith, hope,  and the profound impact of the Mazu belief  

這些故事編織了信仰、希望以及媽祖信仰體系

system in the hearts of the Taiwanese, serving  as a beacon of light through the shadows of war.

在台灣人心中的深刻影響，成為照亮戰爭陰影的燈塔。

Mazu sentenced to celestial prison

媽祖坐牢一百年

I think this one is the most intriguing one.

我覺得這個是最耐人尋味的。

In 1862, Maogangwei was one of the bustling  villages in the Tainan area of Taiwan,  

1862年，茅港尾是台灣台南地區最繁華的村莊之一，

lively enough to have a "night  market" for evening shopping.

熱鬧到有晚上購物的「夜市」。

According to some records,  on the eve of an earthquake,  

根據記載，地震前夕，

the Holy Mazu of the Tianhou Temple in  Maogangwei "descended to the planchette"  

茅港尾天后宮的媽祖「降乩」示警，

to warn the people of an impending "great  disaster" and urged them to be cautious.

警告人們“大災”即將來臨，叮囑人們小心謹慎。

However, when the people pressed  for more details about the disaster,  

然而，當人們追問有關這場災難的更多細節時，

Mazu did not elaborate further, as divulging the  

媽祖並沒有進一步說明，因為洩漏天機

secrets of heaven was considered a grave  sin and could not be explained further.

被認為是大罪，無法進一步解釋。

Due to the outbreak of the Dai Chaochun  rebellion starting in April of that year  

由於當年4月開始的戴朝春叛亂

(historically referred to as the Dai Chaochun  Incident), the residents of Maogangwei did not  

（史稱戴朝春事件）的爆發，茅巷尾居民

associate the divine warning with a natural  disaster but rather with human calamities,  

認為女神的警告應是人禍，而不是天災，

suspecting that Dai's troops or  bandits might attack the village.

懷疑戴潮春的軍隊或土匪可能會襲擊村莊。

Consequently, they took preventive  measures such as sealing doors and  

於是，他們採取了封門、

scattering beans to obstruct thieves.

撒豆子等預防措施，以阻止土匪。

Unexpectedly, the disaster turned  out to be a massive earthquake,  

沒想到災難竟然是大地震，

and these actions inadvertently  hindered escape routes.

這些舉動無意間阻礙了逃生路線。

This misunderstanding of Mazu's warning, or  perhaps the revelation of heavenly secrets,  

這種對媽祖警告的誤解，或者說是對天機啟示的誤解，

led to the legend of Mazu being "imprisoned  for a hundred years" by the heavenly court,  

導致了媽祖被天庭「囚禁一百年」的傳說，

until her "release" in 1962.

直到1962年「釋放」

Following her release, a committee was established  

。釋放後，成立了一個委員會

to rebuild the Tianhou Temple,  which was completed in 1975.

，重建天后宮，於1975 年竣工。

Mazu's attempt to warn her people of  an imminent disaster underscores her  

媽祖試圖警告她的人民災難即將來臨，這突顯了她

unwavering willingness to help them, even  at the risk of facing consequences from  

堅定不移地幫助他們的意願，即使冒著

the heavenly bureaucracy for revealing  secrets meant to be kept from mortals.

因洩露本應向凡人保密的秘密而面臨天上官僚機構的 後果的風險

This act of divine defiance highlights  her compassionate nature and her role as a  

這種對天庭權威反叛的行為凸顯了她富有同情心的天性和她作為

guardian who prioritizes the well-being  of mortals over celestial decrees.

守護者的角色，她將凡人的福祉置於天庭法令之上。

The legend also casts a light  on the intricate relationship  

這個傳說也揭示了

between the divine and the earthly realms.

神界與塵世之間錯綜複雜的關係。

The villagers' misinterpretation of Mazu's  warning reflects the limitations of human  

村民對媽祖警告的誤解反映了人類

understanding and the challenges in  deciphering divine signs, especially  

理解力的限制和解讀神諭的挑戰，尤其

when clouded by the immediate threats of human  conflicts like the Dai Chaochun rebellion.

是在戴朝春叛亂等人類衝突的直接威脅籠罩在陰影之下。

This misalignment between the heavenly warning  and earthly reception inadvertently led to Mazu's  

神界的警告與人界的接受訊息之間的這種不一致無意中導致了媽祖的

"imprisonment," a narrative element that  speaks to the complexities of divine-human  

“監禁”，這一敘事元素講述了神人互動

interactions and the consequences  of intervening in mortal affairs.

的複雜性以及乾預凡人事務的後果。

From a more conservative interpretation,  the story also hints at a justification  

從更保守的角度來看，這個故事也暗示了

for the heavenly bureaucracy's strict  rules against revealing the future.

天上官僚機構嚴禁揭示未來的合理性。

It suggests that there might be wisdom in  the divine reluctance to share knowledge  

這表明，神不願分享有關未來事件的訊息

of future events, as such revelations can lead  to unintended consequences, misunderstandings,  

可能是明智的，因為此類啟示可能會導致意想不到的後果、誤解，

and potentially exacerbate the  situations they aim to prevent.

並可能加劇他們旨在防止的情況。

The villagers' preparations for a  human threat rather than a natural  

村民們為應對人類威脅而不是自然災害

disaster illustrate how divine  guidance, when misinterpreted,  

所做的準備表明，如果神的指導被誤解，

can lead to actions that may not  only be futile but also harmful.

可能會導致不僅徒勞而且有害的行動。

The Cultural Significance of Mazu

媽祖的文化意義

In 2009, the belief in Mazu was inscribed  

2009年，媽祖信仰被列入

on the UNESCO Representative List of the  Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

聯合國教科文組織人類非物質文化遺產代表作名錄。

Over time, emperors from various dynasties  bestowed upon her numerous honorary titles,  

隨著時間的推移，歷代皇帝賜予她無數的榮譽稱號，

elevating her status from a noblewoman  to a goddess recognized by the state.  

將她的地位從受尊崇的女子提升為國家承認的女神。

This culminated in the Qing dynasty,  where she received the highest honors.

這種情況在清朝達到頂峰，她獲得了最高的榮譽。

The spread of Mazu's worship is closely linked  to maritime history and the diaspora of ethnic  

媽祖崇拜的傳播與海洋歷史和沿海華人社區的散居密切相關

Chinese coastal communities, forming a  significant part of the cultural heritage  

是東亞和東南亞華人聚居地區

and social fabric in East Asia and Southeast  Asian regions with ethnic Chinese populations.

文化遺產和社會結構的重要組成部分

Worshiping Mazu is an integral part  of cultural and religious life in  

崇拜媽祖是世界各地許多華人社群

many ethnic Chinese communities around the world,  

文化和宗教生活不可或缺的一部分

with numerous temples dedicated to her and  various festivals celebrating her legacy.

， 有許多供奉媽祖的寺廟和各種節日來慶祝她。

Famous Mazu Temples 

著名的媽祖廟

Here are some of the most famous  temples where you can pray to Mazu: 

以下是您可以祈求媽祖的一些最著名的寺廟：

Dajia Zhenlan Temple (大甲鎮瀾宮) - Located in  Taichung, Taiwan, it is famous for hosting  

大甲鎮瀾宮 - 位於台灣台中市，以舉辦

one of the largest and most significant  Mazu pilgrimage festivals in the world.

最大、最重要的媽祖朝聖節慶之一而聞名在世界上。

Tianhou Temple, Taipei (台北天后宫) - A  significant temple located in Taipei,  

台北天后宮 - 位於台灣台北的一座重要寺廟

Taiwan, dedicated to Mazu, showing her  importance in Taiwanese religious culture.

，供奉媽祖，顯示了她在台灣宗教文化中的重要性。

Beigang Chaotian Temple (北港朝天宫) - A  well-known Mazu temple in Beigang,  

北港朝天宮 -台灣雲林縣北港著名的媽祖廟

Yunlin County, Taiwan, known for its grand  architecture and the annual Mazu festival.

，以其宏偉的建築和一年一度的媽祖節而聞名。

Meizhou Mazu Temple (湄州媽祖廟) - Located on  Meizhou Island, Fujian Province, China,  

湄州媽祖廟 - 位於中國福建省湄洲島，

this temple is considered the birthplace of Mazu  and the most sacred site for her worshipers.

這座寺廟被認為是媽祖的誕生地，也是媽祖最神聖的地方。

Tianjin Mazu Temple (天津天后宮) - One of the  major Mazu temples in Northern China,  

天津天后宮 - 中國北方主要媽祖廟之一，

reflecting the widespread worship  of Mazu beyond the coastal areas.

反映了除了沿海地區外也有對媽祖的普遍崇拜。

Thian Hock Keng Temple (天福宫) - Situated in  Singapore, this temple is one of the oldest  

天福宮 (Thian Hock Keng Temple) - 這座寺廟位於新加坡，是最古老的寺廟之一

and most important Hokkien temples  outside China, dedicated to Mazu. 

以及中國以外最重要的福建廟，供奉媽祖。

The Ma-Tzu Temple of USA(美國媽祖廟朝聖宮)- also known as  the San Francisco Mazu Temple, was founded in 1986  

美國媽祖廟朝聖宮－又稱舊金山媽祖廟，

by Kao Ke-ta, a Taiwanese immigrant from Beigang  Town, and Xing Renyou, a qigong fitness expert. 

由北港鎮台灣移民高可達和氣功健身專家邢人友於1986年創立。

Their mission was to continue the worship of  Mazu in America, and to promote Mazu's virtues  

他們的使命是延續美國對媽祖的崇拜，弘揚媽祖

of saving the world and benevolence. Famous Festivals Associated with Mazu 

救世仁慈的美德。與媽祖相關的著名節日

Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage (大甲媽祖遶境) - The  most famous event associated with Mazu,  

大甲媽祖繞境 - 這是與媽祖相關的最著名的活動是

the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage in Taiwan, which  attracts millions of followers. Pilgrims follow  

台灣的大甲媽祖繞境，吸引了數百萬追隨者。

the Mazu statue from the Dajia Zhenlan Temple  across various parts of Taiwan to seek blessings.

香客跟隨大甲瀾宮的媽祖像，穿越台灣各地祈禱。

Beigang Mazu Festival (北港媽祖文化節) -  This festival in Beigang, Taiwan,  

北港媽祖文化節 - 台灣北港的這個節日

features a procession of Mazu's statue and  attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists.

以媽祖雕像遊行為特色，吸引了數千名信徒和遊客。

Mazu's Birthday (媽祖誕辰) - Celebrated on  the 23rd day of the third lunar month,  

媽祖誕辰－農曆三月二十三日，

it involves various ceremonies and  festivities in Mazu temples worldwide.

世界各地的媽祖廟都會舉行各種儀式和慶祝活動。

These temples and festivals not only  honor Mazu but also serve as important  

這些寺廟和節慶不僅祭祀媽祖，

cultural gatherings for the ethnic Chinese  diaspora, promoting unity, cultural heritage,  

也是海外華人重要的文化聚會，促進文化遺產和社群的精神價值。

and spiritual values within communities. So here you go, let me know what you think about  

讓我知道你對媽祖的看法，如果你還有其他問題，我是What People Also Ask中的Shao，下次見。

Mazu, and if you have any other questions, I am  Shao From What People Also Ask, see you next time.