[Previous entry: "ANCIENT SEASIDE TREES"] [Next entry: "SEVEN CANNON.....Taipei 228 Peace Park"]

03/04/2006: "DOLPHIN GIRL"

Matsu, originally named Lin Mo Niang (silent girl) was born in 960 AD near Meizhou Bay in Fujien Province, China.

She is revered by sea faring people in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Matsu has become much more than the patron saint of fishermen, she is one of the most venerated deities in the Chinese pantheon.

Her birthday on the 3rd month, 23rd day of the Chinese calendar is celebrated in Taiwan's hundreds of Matsu temples.

Because she is a powerful female deity and was supposedly visited by Kuan Yin herself, she is often associated with Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy.



This model measuring one metre is on the staircase wall at the hotel where I am in Taiwan. It's possibly quite old, perhaps dating back to the Japan administration era which ended 60 years ago.

Taiwanese have been celebrating Matsu last week.