Mazu is the Chinese goddess who protects sailors and fishermen. As a sea goddess, she is believed to rescue and guide people facing storms, shipwrecks, and other dangers at sea.
Mazu is traditionally identified with Lin Moniang, a woman from Fujian who is said to have lived in the late tenth century. Legends describe her as unusually gifted, compassionate, and able to use supernatural powers to aid people at sea. One famous story says she entered a trance while weaving and spiritually tried to save family members caught in a typhoon.
After her death, devotion to her spread through China’s coastal regions and overseas Chinese communities. She is worshipped under titles including Tianhou, or “Queen of Heaven,” and Tianfei, “Princess of Heaven.” Her temples remain especially prominent in Taiwan, Fujian, and maritime communities across Southeast Asia.
Guanyin is sometimes linked with Mazu in popular stories, but they are distinct figures. Nüwa is a creator goddess, while Xiwangmu is associated with immortality and the western paradise.