Which Taoist goddess is the protector of seafarers? The answer is Mazu, the sea goddess revered as a protector of sailors and fishermen.
Mazu is the deified form of Lin Moniang, a woman traditionally said to have lived in Fujian during the Song period. Legends describe her guiding or rescuing people at sea, and after her death she became a tutelary deity of maritime communities. Her worship spread through China’s coastal regions and overseas Chinese communities across Southeast Asia.
Mazu belongs to a shared religious world rather than a single exclusive tradition. She is honored in Chinese folk religion and is also associated with Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucian practice. Her titles include Tianhou, or “Queen of Heaven,” and Tianfei, “Heavenly Consort.”
The other options are different figures: Xihe is linked with the sun, He Bo is a river deity, and Longmu is associated with dragons and southern Chinese legends. Mazu is the figure specifically identified with maritime protection.