Due to the geographical location and the historical background in Taiwan, there are many folk religions and deities. Among these deities, the St. Celestial Queen – Mazu, the so called Goddess of Sea, has the most believers and the noblest position. For Taiwanese, it is not a superstition to believe in Mazu, but a deep-rooted belief. People regard her as their parent, and worship her as a deity. People respect and love her from the depth of their hearts. In Spring every year, Mazu’s birthday is in March. It is a revelry festival. Pilgrims worship her. It is an exceptionally grand occasion.   

　　 Mazu was a native of Mei Chiou Islet, Pu Tien Hsien, Hisng Hua, Fu Chien Province, China. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. Wei-chueh LIN (林惟愨), who was a cost defense patrolman to mop up robbers and thieves, and seize smugglers. Her grandfather, Mr. Fu LIN (林孚), was anofficer called Warrior General (a high ranking military officer) in Fu Chien Province. Her father married nee WANG, having 5 daughters and one son. The couple gave to the poor, and did good deeds in all their lives. They both believed in Bodhisattva Guan Shi Yin (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara觀音菩薩). Because they had only one son, they wished to have a strong descendant. Everyday they burnt incenses to pray for another son.

　　One night when nee WANG slept soundly, she saw Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara gave her a divine pill. She ate it, and became pregnant. All the LIN’s were very happy.

　　On March 23, 1^st year of Chien Lung (the reign title of Sung Tai Tsu, Grand Progenitor of Sung Dynasty) (in 960 AD), nee WANG gave birth to the 6^th daughter. It was today’s Mazu. LIN’s couple prayed for a son, but were given a dauther. They somewhat felt disappointed to Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. However, there was one red beam from  northwest casting into the room when this she-baby was born. This miracle appeared between the heaven and the earth. Besides, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara forecasted about this baby in the dream. Therefore, they believed that this daughter was not a common people. The couples loved this little daughter more. What surprised us was that the she-baby had never made sound or cried from the day she was born to the age of full one month. Therefore, her parents named her “Mo”, and called her “Mo maid”. (Mo means soundless or silent.)

Mo maid was very clever when she was a child. She was different from other girls. When she was 8 years old, she studied in a home school with private tutor. She could understand the profound meaning of the books. When she was 10 years old, she concentrated her mind on reading Buddhist Scriptures, and worshiped Buddha. When she was 13 years old, one mysterious Taoist, white hair and ruddy complexion, gave her a Taoist book and a secret teaching. When she aged 16, she observed a well, and was given by god a precious magical spell book. She studied it very carefully, and comprehended the profound meaning of all the sutras. Since then, she had supernatural power, and could transform herself into any form as she wished. She could repel evil spirits, and displayed magic power to help others. When she was 21 years old, a drought in south part of Fu Chien province lasted for one year. The farmers suffered such a great disaster. The county officer invited her to ask for rain. She prayed to the Heaven, and it rained immediately. Thus, the farmers were saved.

　　Two goblins lived in Peach Flower Mountain in the northwestern area of Mei Chiou. Their names were Thousand-mile-eyes (farsighted) and Favorable-wind-ears (be able to hear voices a long way off) respectively. The residents suffered hardships because these two goblins made trouble. She beat them, and kept them as her two divine generals. Thousand-mile-eyes could see the disaster thousand miles away. The favorable-wind-ears could hear the piteous voices from four directions for help. From then on they protected Mazu on her both sides. They assisted Mazu to repel evil spirits and suppress wicked creatures everywhere. They three became the best combination as the divine protector of sea. There were other stories about her relief to the victims of disasters.

　　 4^th year of Yung His, Sung Dynasty (987 AD), Mo maid (Mazu) was 28 years old. It was September 9 in Autumn, she told her family members, “I want to travel to a far and high place. Because the road there is narrow and dangerous, and the destination is far away, I can’t bring you there.” Thus, she said goodbye to their parents, and crossed the sea to Mei Chiou Islet. She climbed the Mei Chiou peak. Suddenly white clouds gathered in the mountain peaks. There came the celestial music. The songs were loud. There were many boy and girl celestials over the clouds. They protected Mazu to fly to the heaven. From then on some people saw her wear red clothes between the cliff and the waterfall, and fly over the sea. Some people saw her linger between the cliff and the waterfall. Some people saw her sit on her crossed feet on the cloud of far end. Some people met her in the dram, and she predicted auspiciousness to them…If people had troubles, and asked for her help, or told her their wishes, it was sure that Matus would answer their request. Thus, people worshiped her as a goddess, and respected her as “virtuous and powerful female”. People built a temple for her. This was the first Mazu temple called “Mei Chiou Ancestral Temple”.  

　　 Because of the change of time, the political need, illustrious celestial achievements and her relief to numberless people, Mazu had many titles, such as female celestial, witch, conferred “Sun Chi” (literal meaning as “very helpful”), Lady, Princess-consort, Celestial Consort, Celestial Queen and the St. Celestial Queen. Here are some representative legends about her.

Female Celestial:

　　2^nd year of Hsuan Ho, Sung Wei Chung, Sung Dynasty (1120 AD),

a merchant met typhoon, and called “female celestial” for help, and was saved. After returning home, he rebuilt her shrine bigger at Shen Tun in Ning Chiang, Pu Tien, and remolded a golden statue for her.

Witch:

　　20^th year of Shao Hsing, Sung Kao Chung, Sung Dynasty (1150 AD),

Mr. Kung-tu HUANG (黃公度), a Pu Tien native and the top of the List candidate accepted Mr. Fu LEE (李富)’s invitation to visit Sun Chi Temple at the White Lake. His poem indicated that Mazu was the sea goddess at that time.

Sun Chi :

　　4^th year of Hsuan Ho, Sung Wei Chung, Sung Dynasty (1122 AD), Mr. Ti YUN (允迪) served as an envoy to Kao Li (高麗 today’s Korea). He encountered typhoon on his way. A female in red clothes rescued him. The believers of Shen Tun Temple told him that she was the Mei Chiou female celestial. Thus, he wrote a report to the emperor Sung Wei Chung, and asked the emperor to confer the temple with a horizontal wooden tablet inscribed with two characters “Sun Chi” (means very helpful). This was the first time that Mazu was conferred with a title by the imperial court. 

Lady:
　　10^th year of Tsun His, Sung Hsiao Chung, Sung Dynasty (1183 AD), she successfully helped Mr. Tai WEN (溫台) to suppress bandits, and was conferred with a title as “Efficacious, upholding righteousness and welfare lady”.

Princess Consort:

　　1^st year of Shao His, Sung Kuang Chung, Sung Dynasty (1190 AD),She fought drought, and had a great merit. She was promoted, and conferred with a title of “Efficacious and dutiful Consort”. This was the first time that she was promoted from Lady to Consort. 

Celestial Consort:  

　　18^th year of Chih Yuan, Yuan Shih Tsu, Yuan Dynasty (1281 AD), she protected the river transport, and had merit. She was conferred with a title of “Protector Celestial Consort”.

Celestial Queen:

　　23^rd year of Kang His, Ching Sheng Tsu, Ching Dynasty (1684 AD), Mr. Chi WANG (汪揖) served as an envoy to Okinawa, and had her help. The emperor conferred her with a title as “Protector of country and people, Efficacious and Mercy Celestial Queen”. The two characters “Celestial Queen” appeared for the first time.

　　1^st year of Kuang His, Ching Dynasty (1875 AD), Emperor Ching Te Chung added a title as “Protector of country and people, Efficacious, Great Mercy and Relief, Sincere, Supernatural Power, Compassion, Peaceful and Lucky, Benefiting the world, Ceasing ocean weaves, Guiding river flow, pacifying the ocean, favor extending, protecting river transport, Promoting country power and protecting the border, Chia Yu Fu Jen Celestial Queen”. The title had 68 Chinese characters. She is the only goddess who has the most titles.

The St. Celestial Queen：
　　4^th year of Yung Cheng (1726 AD), Ching Shih Chung, Ching Dynasty, she helped people to fight fire in the imperial palace, and was conferred with a title of the St. Celestial Queen. Later, she protected the ocean transport, and helped the imperial court to suppress the bandits. Thus, the emperor added some sentences to the St. Celestial Queen as one kind of respectfulness.