From the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, Mazu was awarded more than 40 times in the imperial court; Quanzhou Tianhou Palace, as a world cultural heritage site, has the highest specification and largest scale among the temples worshiping Mazu; the prosperity of Tianhou Palace is closely related to the group of merchants, witnessing the development of Quanzhou's commerce under the influence of marine trade
Tianhou Palace 0 Tianhou Palace is located at the southern end of Quanzhou ancient city, facing Jinjiang and coastal ports in the south. It was founded in 1196 and was first called Shunji Palace. With the admiration of Mazu's beliefs by officials and people throughout the ages, the Tianhou Palace has been developed and developed, and the layout characteristics of the front hall and back bedroom formed before the 16th century are still preserved. The existing building complex faces north and south, and generally has a courtyard layout with a central axis symmetrical structure. The ancestors of Quanzhou sowed the seeds of Mazu's faith all over the world, and the Tianhou Palace has printed traces of officials, scholars and merchants from all generations who came to worship.
□ Reporter Wu Jiyun Chen Qituo Text/Picture
Outside the back hall there is a simple "Imperial Imperial Imperial" monument
Quanzhou Tianhou Palace Mazu Cultural Relics Exhibition
Temple was built in a place where foreign ships and passengers gather
"Depas Kunwei whale waves will be respite forever, Sihan Haidian Ao Palace will always be new." This is a couplet written by Xu Rulan, the governor of Quanzhou during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty for the Tianhou Palace. The Quanzhou Tianhou Palace, famous at home and abroad, is a temple dedicated to the sea god Mazu, and has been built for more than 800 years. The palace has always been regarded as the highest-level and largest temple for Mazu at home and abroad, and is also an important center for the spread of Mazu faith worldwide.
Mazu, real name is Lin Mo, a girl from the Lin family in Meizhou Island. After his birth, he did not hear any cry, so he named it "Mo". According to legend, she was very skilled in medical treatment during her lifetime, and had the ability to predict good and good fortune and escort her. After her death, she was regarded as a "goddess" by the locals. Mazu's belief flourished in Meizhou, but when it comes to its influence spread at home and abroad, it is the first to be the Tianhou Temple in Quanzhou.
According to historical records, Quanzhou Tianhou Palace was first built in the second year of Qingyuan (1196). Legend has it that in the year, "The monk Juequanmeng, Haichao Temple in Quanzhou, ordered a palace to be built by Xu Shichang, a native of Tuili. In fact, the two streams of the Xun River in the Wujiang River and the place where foreign ships gather. At that time, Luocheng was still in Zhennan Bridge, but the palace was on the Wupu." The rivers in Quanzhou were crisscrossing, like streamers. The area where rivers flow through the floating bridge is called "Sunjiang", and the area where Shunji Bridge is called "Yunjiang". The coast of the Wu River is called "Yinpu". The so-called "Xun Water" is the southwest of the Bagua direction. In the old days, there was a large alluvial sandbank between the Sun River and the Wujiang River called "Lizhou" (commonly known as Caigongzhou or Caizhou). There are still tributaries along the northern edge of Lizhou, starting from Zhangmen in the west and ending at Wubao in the south, commonly known as the Pubugugou, this is "Xun Water". The land of Wupu where the Wujiang River meets Xunshui was already a prosperous commercial area in the Song Dynasty, and the temple advocated by Xu Shichang is located here. At that time, the temple was named after the title "Shunji" given during the Xuanhe period of Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty, so it was originally called "Shunji Temple" (also known as Shunji Palace, later called Tianhou Palace). "Suiting for the wind" means to help the wind. At that time, the Shunji Palace was quite large, with three halls, mountain gates, two corridors and two pavilions.
The reason why Song Huizong gave Mazu the title of "Shunji" was due to the saying that Mazu protected the envoy to Goryeo. According to the "Puyang Bishi" by Li Junfu, a native of Putian, in the second year of Jiading (1209), "In the fifth year of Xuanhe (1123), Lu Yundi sent Goryeo, and the middle of the river was shaking the wind, and eight boats drowned seven times. The gods riding on the road were descended to the moat, and the peace flowed to help the flow. The envoy returned to the report and specially gave the temple name Shunji." There are similar records in the "Records of the Temple of the Holy Concubine of Genshan Shunji" written by Ding Bogui, a Jinshi of Jiatai (1230). After the servant Lu Yundi Anran returned to the court, he reported to Song Huizong about his protection and asked Mazu for his title. Therefore, Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty granted the "Shunji" temple of Mazu Palace in Meizhou and named Mazu the god "specialized in the sea".
The Song Dynasty had close ties with Goryeo, and merchant ships often traded in Goryeo. Li Yukun, a researcher in Quanzhou cultural and museum, said in his book "Research on Mazu Historical Sites" that because Fujian has advanced shipbuilding technology and excellent sailors, many overseas ships and boatmen envoys from the Song Dynasty were recruited in Fujian, and Xuanhe envoys Goryeo was no exception. There were not only many Fujian sailors in the Song Dynasty's mission, but also many Fujian merchants went to trade with the delegation. They originally believed in Mazu, and under their influence, it was reasonable to say that Mazu protected the ship.The front eaves of the back hall preserve a pair of square bluestone carved stone pillars of the Yuan Dynasty. The bluestone carved stone pillars of the Yuan Dynasty.
0. The phoenix crown and red veil are sitting in the throne. The official ceremony was once popular.
. In the 15th year after the construction of the Shunji Palace in Quanzhou, the fourth year of Jiading in the Southern Song Dynasty (1211), the county magistrate Zou Yinglong built a stone bridge downstream from the Sun River. It is close to the Shunji Palace and is called "Shunji Bridge". The stone bridge is located in front of Shunji Palace, spanning Jinjiang. It is more than 150 meters long and 15 meters wide. It has stone railings and towers on the bridge. There are mighty stone generals and bridge forts at the bridge. The four words "Xiongzhen Tiannan" are written on the horizontal plaque, and the three words "Shunji Bridge" are carved in the stone in the bridge. When Chinese and foreign merchant ships were moored in the river on the shore, the first thing they saw were the two majestic buildings, Shunji Palace and Shunji Bridge. The names of "Shunji" and "Mazu" were spread all over the world.
Shunji Palace is located at the southern end of Quanzhou Ancient City, facing Jinjiang and coastal ports in the south. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, Quanzhou had a strong overseas trade. "Winds and scales gathered" and "cloud sails covered the sky" in various ports. The ships rushed and loaded and unloaded. There are tens of thousands of foreign merchants, travelers, missionaries, monks, etc. who live in Quanzhou City. In the era of mast sailing, facing the sea where the wind direction and waves are unpredictable and the danger of burying the sea if you are not careful, helpless people place their hopes on Mazu's blessing. As long as they go to sea, they must first go to Shunji Palace to worship and invite a Mazu to take the boat to ensure safety of sailing, and even foreigners are no exception. Mazu's belief was thus spread rapidly. Shunji Palace, a palace temple that has always regarded Mazu as its main god, connects to the city area inside and connects to the harbor outside. It is located at the "convergence of the two streams of the Xun River in the Wujiang River", and is an important place for the city to flourish. The unique geographical location makes it the first stop for foreign merchants and goods to enter Quanzhou City, and it is also the first stop for people who go out to sea to worship the sea god Mazu and go along Jinjiang to overseas trade.
In the Song Dynasty, Quanzhou local chiefs and Maritime Bureau officials held the "Qi Feng and Sacrifice to the Sea" ceremony every spring and autumn to pray for calm and safe sailing to encourage the development of foreign trade. The first sacrifice to the sea was at Zhenwu Temple by Jinjiang River, and the wind prayer ceremony was at Jiuri Mountain in Nan'an County. However, by the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, the sacrifice to the Shunji Palace was replaced. After entering the Yuan Dynasty, Quanzhou's overseas trade became more and more prosperous. In order to develop overseas trade, the court highly praised the belief in the sea gods. The faith status of Mazu of Quanzhou Tianhou Palace was "high" due to the improvement of Quanzhou Port's status. In the 18th year of Zhiyuan (1281), the court also sent Quanzhou Maritime Mansion Command to supra Pu Shiwen as an envoy, presided over the imperial enthronement ceremony, held an imperial sacrifice, and listed it as a national ritual. At that time, even foreign envoys and merchants participated in this ritual. In the 59th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1720), the Spring and Autumn Festival was officially designated. After that, the Spring and Autumn Festival official sacrifices of the Shunji Palace became a prescribed rule.
Repair of the Inscription on the Inscription of the Heavenly Palace
Helmet of the main hall
The title of the previous dynasties has been continuously upgraded
0In the seven or eight hundred years from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, emperors of all dynasties have enthroned Mazu more than 40 times, and their title of the title has been continuously upgraded and increased layer by layer. Initially, Song Huizong only gave the imperial title to the "Shunji" temple, and named Mazu the sea god, and Shunji Temple "official tax on sacrificial fields." In the 25th year of Shaoxing (1155), the imperial court issued an edict to grant Mazu the title of "Lady Chongfu", which kicked off the prelude to the promotion of the title. Next, emperors such as Song Xiaozong, Song Guangzong, Song Ningzong, and Song Lizong were also "spread" by Mazu and continued to add her titles.
During the Song Dynasty, Mazu's title had developed from "goddess" and "madam" to "concubine", and the image expresses Mazu's magical response and can help people, without any specific content. For example, in the 26th year of Shaoxing (1156), because Mazu appeared to rescue the drought, Emperor Gaozong of Song Dynasty Zhao Gou named Mazu "Mrs. Linghui". In the 30th year of Shaoxing (1160), "the pirates gathered at the mouth of the river, and the residents prayed, and the gods saw the air, and the wind and smoke rose, and the enemy was defeated." Song Gaozong named Mazu "Mrs. Linghui Zhaoying"; in the third year of Qiandao (1167), Xinghua was severely infected, and Mazu gave instructions: "A lot of springs can cure the disease." The people dug and scolded the braised rice, and indeed sweet springs surged out, and the drinkers immediately recovered. Therefore, Song Xiaozong named Mazu "Mrs. Linghui Zhaoying Chongfu"; in the 1184 year of Chunxi (1184), "Jiang Te, the inspector of Fuxingdu, arrested Taiwan pirates, and he was captured when he prayed." Song Xiaozong also named Mazu "Mrs. Linghui Zhaoying Chongfu".In the third year of Shaoxi (1192), due to the relief of the drought, Emperor Guangzong of Song Dynasty appointed Mazu as "Concubine Linghui", and Mazu was promoted from "Madam" to "Concubine" for the first time. "Concubine" was also used by emperors after Emperor Guangzong of Song. For example, in the fourth year of Qingyuan (1198), heavy fog helped to destroy pirates, and Emperor Ningzong of Song named Mazu "Linghui Zhushun Concubine"; in the first year of Jiading (1208), "the Jin people invaded Huaidian, and the Song soldiers carried the gods to fight in Huayan Town. They saw the clouds and the flags of divine weapons and flags, and they won a great victory. When they fought in Zijin Mountain, they saw statues of gods again, and then fought three more victory, and then broke the siege of Hefei." Emperor Ningzong of Song also named Mazu "Linghui Zhushun Concubine Xianwei Concubine"; in the tenth year of Jiading (1217), rains saved drought and helped to destroy pirates, and Emperor Ningzong of Song also named Mazu "Linghui Zhushun Concubine"; in the third year of Jiaxi (1237), the embankment of the Great Chao River in Qiantang broke, and when the tide surged to the Mazu Temple in Genshan, it immediately retreated quickly as if someone was blocking it. Therefore, Song Lizong named Mazu "Linghui Zhengjia Ying Ying Ying Concubine"; later, Song Lizong made contributions to Mazu's rain and rescue drought and helping capture pirates, and in the second year of Baoyou (1254) and the third year of Baoyou (1254) and the third year of Baoyou (Linghui Zhengjia Ying Ying Ying Ying Ying Xie Sheng Qing Concubine". In the fourth year of Baoyou (1262), Mazu was named "Linghui Xianji Jia Qing Shanqing Concubine".
is relatively abstract and different from the title of the Song Dynasty. By the Yuan Dynasty, the emperor's canonization clearly recorded Mazu's three major achievements from "assisting the country" to "protecting the saints" and then "sanctioning the people". For example, in the fifteenth year of Zhiyuan (1278), the ancestor of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan, appointed Mazu as "protecting the country, Ming, Linghui, Zhengshanqing, Xianji Tianfei", and upgraded Mazu from "concubine" to "Tianfei"; in the first year of Yanyou (1314), Yuan Renzong named Mazu as "protecting the country, protecting the people, Guangjiming, Tianfei"; in the second year of Tianli (1329), Yuan Wenzong named Mazu as "protecting the country, protecting the people, Guangjiming, Tianfei"; in the 14th year of Zhizheng (1354), Yuan Shun Emperor named Mazu as "protecting the country, protecting the people, Guangjiming, Tianfei", which was the longest title given to Mazu by the Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. Quanzhou Shunji Palace naturally became the Tianfei Palace. The Yuan Dynasty emperors sacrificed their honor to the heavenly concubines many times in Quanzhou Port where foreigners gathered. The impact can be imagined.
The Ming Dynasty government generally implemented a policy of banning seas, especially the ban on all foreign trade during the Zhengde and Jiajing periods, and the retreat was relatively strong. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty also gave the least title to the sea god Mazu. In the fifth year of Hongwu (1372), the Ming Dynasty Taizu was granted the title of "Zhao Xiaochun Zhengfu Ji Yanhui Holy Concubine"; in the seventh year of Yongle (1409), the Ming Dynasty Chengzu was granted the title of "Protecting the country and protecting the people, Miaoling Zhaoying Hongren Puji Tianfei". However, the title of "Saint Concubine" and "Tian Concubine" still maintains respect for Mazu's high standards. Zheng He voyages to the West for seven times, "being protected by the concubine of heaven". In order to repay the concubine of heaven", he built the temples of heaven in various places many times. Quanzhou was the place where Zheng He had to go to the West. At that time, Quanzhou Tianfei Temple "received the Western eunuch Zheng He to order Fujian to reopen the temple. Since then, the officials of the internal officials and officials of the Central Army to send their missions to Ryukyu, Siam, Java, Manraga and other countries to pay tribute to the public, which means that the diplomatic envoys who were sent to other countries at that time also went to the Tianfei Temple to burn incense and sacrifice to the public.
The Qing Dynasty rulers adopted a policy of exploiting Mazu's beliefs, and Mazu's beliefs developed faster, especially in Taiwan's Mazu's beliefs became more common during this period. In the 19th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1680), the navy commander Wan Zhengse garrisoned the army of Chongwu in Hui'an. He dreamed of Tianfei's concubine assisting the wind at night. The next day, the north wind successfully conquered Xiamen. Therefore, Emperor Kangxi named Mazu "protecting the country and protecting the people, Miaoling Zhaoying Hongren and Promoting the Heavenly Concubine", and this title actually copied the title given by Ming Dynasty Chengzu. In the 22nd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1683), when Shi Lang attacked Penghu, it was said that he also received the help of Concubine Tian. "The soldiers all said that they saw the Concubine Shen as if they were on the left and right." On the day of attacking Penghu, people from Pinghai Township entered the Tianfei Palace. Seeing that Tianfei's robe was wet and their hands were blistered. Everyone said that Tianfei went to help the battle. In order to repay the kindness of the concubine of Tian, Shi Lang added to the Penghu Tianfei Palace in the 23rd year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1684). Kangxi sent Yahoo, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, to the Quanzhou Temple and Meizhou Ancestral Temple to worship, and also named Mazu the "Mysterious Spirit and Zhaoying and Mercy Queen". Since then, the Tianfei Palace in Quanzhou has been renamed Tianhou Palace. "Queen of Heaven" is the highest title of the official goddess.In view of this, when Emperor Shizong of the Qing Dynasty wanted to grant Mazu the imperial gift in the fourth year of Yongzheng (1726) and the eleventh year of Yongzheng (1733), he had to give the eight words "Shen Zhao Hai Bei" and "Give Blessing An Lan"; Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty followed in the footsteps and also gave the eight words "Blessing for All Life" and "Sincere and Feeling Xianfu" to Mazu. During the Daoguang period, the Wenzong of the Qing Dynasty appointed Mazu as the "Holy Mother of Heaven", and the meaning of words and decorative meanings exceeded actual meanings.
According to scholars' statistics, emperors of all dynasties have enthroned Mazu for more than 600 words, which can be said to be the highest record for the title of Chinese gods.
Behind the main hall
The imperial plaque of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty
The "Treasure Land" in the eyes of travelers
Nowadays, Quanzhou Tianhou Temple, which is a world cultural heritage site, still retains the "front hall and back bedroom" architectural layout that had been formed before the 16th century, and is an architectural template for many Tianhou Temples at home and abroad. There is a peaceful and peaceful atmosphere everywhere here, and it is regarded as a "treasure land" by cultural travel enthusiasts.
Tianhougong Mountain has three rooms wide in width, with archway-style shapes, bluestone dragon pillars, carved and painted. Qilins are carved on both sides of the door, and bluestone openwork dragon and tiger octagonal windows are embedded on the facade. Crossing the mountain gate of Tianhou Palace, a green ancient banyan tree erected in front of the court. Under the banyan tree, the "Inscription on the Reconstruction of Tianhou Palace in the Qing Dynasty" describes the "inventions" of the reconstruction of the palace and temple. There is a stage in the palace, facing north and facing the main hall, which is rectangular. The stage has a clever wooden caisson top cover, carved ridges and painted beams, which is quite in the style of traditional Quanzhou architectural craftsmanship. In the old days, every time the birthday of the queen of heaven, the Spring and Autumn Festival, or the pilgrims make wishes, they would present opera programs here. Puppets, Nanyin, Liyuan Opera, Gaojia Opera, City Opera, etc., are all staged as the guests wish, and are very lively places.
Going further forward is the main hall. Although this hall has experienced many vicissitudes, the wooden buildings in the Ming and Qing Dynasties are still well preserved. The hall is tall and spectacular, with various patterns surrounding the four sides of the platform base. It is said that there were six directions in ancient times. On both sides of the square, there are pictures of "carp turning into dragons", on both sides of the east and west, there are pictures of "Eight Horses Cloud Fire" and behind them are pictures of "Cranes dancing in the clouds", which are very particular. The main hall is carved with beams and painted roofs, and the roof is made of hip-mounted mountain style with nine ridges, double dragons carved with glazed tiles and colorful porcelain pieces. Various birds, animals, flowers and figures are carved at the end of the ridge and between the double eaves, making the roof of the hall more gorgeous and exquisite. There was originally a large statue of the queen in the hall, which was written by Wang Bi, a famous sculpture master in the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, this statue has been destroyed. Today's golden-body Mazu statue is reshaped in modern times. It is a phoenix crown and robe sitting in a talisman position, with a dignified and elegant look. There are also statues of auxiliary gods in the hall. There are horizontal plaques written by Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, "Shen Zhao Haibiao" written by Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, and a plaque "Quan Lu Tongyuan" presented by the Tianhou Palace in Lugang, Taiwan. In addition, there are 8 pairs of couplets, most of which are masterpieces of famous Quanzhou masters. There is a pair of bluestone dragon pillars in front of the hall, and the carved dragons are winding and twisting, lifelike. Behind the main hall, there is a large mural "The Map of the Holy Mother in the Sky" drawn during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, which depicts the architectural layout of the Tianhou Palace on Meizhou Island at that time. "When Meizhou Island rebuilt Mazu Temple, I came here to inspect it, borrowed the information in the murals and designed the reconstruction of the Mazu Temple in Meizhou." The staff introduced that Meizhou Island is the birthplace of Mazu, which was once under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou. The painting of the landscape mural of Mazu Temple in Meizhou not only expresses respect for the birthplace of Mazu, but also uses the important maritime status of Quanzhou Port and the cultural influence of Quanzhou Tianhou Palace to increase the spread of Mazu's belief culture.
The bedroom hall is also called the back hall. Because the terrain is slightly higher than the main hall, the protruding parts on both sides are wing pavilions, and the left and right are vegetarian halls. The entire temple is a large wooden building in the Ming Dynasty, with the roof covered with two slopes. The wooden beams are thick and quaint, and the large wooden pillars are placed on the circular stone foundation of the relief lotus petal granite. The eaves of the temple also preserve a pair of square bluestone-carved bluestone-carved bluestone-carved bluestone-carved stone pillars of the Yuan Dynasty, which should have been moved when the palace and temple was renovated in the Ming Dynasty. This pair of stone pillars witnessed the glorious history of Quanzhou Tianhou Palace and the harmonious integration of Quanzhou's multicultural culture. In addition, there is an ancient "Imperial Imperial" monument erected outside the hall. The complicated and complex history of the Tianhou Palace has become a different scenery in the eyes of passers-by.
Qianlong's "Quanzhou Prefecture Chronicle" and Daoguang's "Jinjiang County Chronicle" include "Record of the Reconstruction of the Tianfei Palace in Quanzhou" written by Gu Po, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue of Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty and "Record of the Tianfei Palace in Quanzhou" written by Xu Rulan, the governor of Quanzhou in the Qing Dynasty. These two steles left important historical basis for tracing the origin of the Tianfei Palace.
The stage opposite the main hall
The lush banyan trees hide the main hall
Faith "Sailing by Boat" stream overseas
Mazu faith is closely related to ancient commerce, especially overseas trade. In Mazu's myths and legends, many are related to the protection of maritime merchants. Ancient maritime merchants, especially Fujian maritime merchants, were not only believers of Mazu, but also disseminators of Mazu's beliefs. They sailed on a long boat and prayed to Mazu for peace in the sea. Later, many Mazu temples were founded by merchants, some Mazu temples became places for markets and trade, and some Mazu temples became guild halls.
The historical records of Quanzhou immigration to Taiwan can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty. According to records, in the seventh year of Qiandao in the Southern Song Dynasty (1171), Quanzhou magistrate Wang Dayou "sent people to garrison Penghu and manage Taiwan household registration." In the Yuan Dynasty, the famous traveler Wang Dayuan went from Quanzhou to Penghu. In his book "A Brief History of Islands and Barbarians", he wrote: "Penghu is divided into 36 islands, with large and thin, and ridges facing each other." At that time, Penghu was the "Quanzhou Outer Palace". It was also during this period that a Mazu Temple was built in Penghu, called Niangma Palace, located on Zhengyi Street, Chang'anli, Magong City, Penghu Island. This is the earliest Mazu temple in Taiwan's history. In the Qing Dynasty, private trade and immigration booms to Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan further emerged in Quanzhou Port, and the faith of Mazu also spread more widely with the footprints of Quanzhou merchants and immigrants. According to historical records, Quanzhou merchants "have their arms and lakes, and their footprints are all over the world. The pearls of the South China Sea and the jadeite of Yuetang are everywhere; the place where the tattoo is, the country where the carvings are engraved is everywhere." Whenever Quanzhou merchants go, they must build a guild hall and invite Mazu from their hometown to worship. There were originally many business suburbs in Quanzhou Tianhou Palace, including Su, Ning, Fu, and Liaojiao, and Lugangjiao Temple nearby. Every time the Tianhou Palace is built, all major Shangsu guild halls will provide support to show their piety. Mazu Temples belonging to "Wenling Ma" have also been established on the islands of Taiwan, such as: Mazu Temple in Wenling in Tainan, Holy Mother Temple in Luermen, Tianhou Temple in Lugang, Tianhou Palace in Tainan, Futian Palace in Chutong Township, Yunlin County, and Chaotian Palace in Quanzhou. In addition, there is the Chaotian Palace built by Wu Luo, a native of Quanzhou, Xu Youyi, a native of Quanzhou, and the Zutian Palace built by Xingang, as well as the Fuyou Palace in Tamsui and Anhai Palace in Taixi. It is worth noting that the halls, mountain gates, dragon pillars, stone walls, stone lintels of these temples, as well as the figures, flowers, birds and beasts carved on them are also masterpieces of skilled craftsmen in Quanzhou.
According to statistics, there are more than 800 Mazu temples in Taiwan, and Mazu believers account for three-quarters of the total population, which is a place of maximum belief. Judging from the level of Mazu temples in Taiwan, they all belong to "dividing spirit". First, from the mainland to hold the statue of Mazu or incense to Taiwan for worship, it is called "dividing incense". Second, from the mainland to hold the statue of Mazu to Taiwan for worship, it is called "dividing incense". Mazu in Taiwan can basically be divided into three categories: Meizhou Mama, Wenling (Quanzhou) Mama, Yintong (Tong'an) Mama, namely Meizhou Mazu, Quanzhou Mazu and Tong'an Mazu.
As coastal merchants go overseas to do business and overseas Chinese make a living overseas, Mazu's faith has also been spread all over the world. For example, the faith of Mazu spread to Japan in the Ming Dynasty, and there are temples worshipping Mazu in Nagasaki, Yokohama, Kobe, Satsuma, Ibaraki, Kyushu Goshima, Hirado and other places. Naba Xia Tianfei Palace is the earliest Tianfei Palace in a foreign country with a time to be tested. A large bell cast in the eighth year of Jingtai in the Ming Dynasty (1457) is preserved in the palace. As early as the 15th year of Jiaqing (1810), Singapore had an altar on the original site of Tianfu Palace on Chengyuanshun Street, Singapore to worship Mazu. In the first year of Daoguang (1821), it developed into a temple dedicated to Mazu. In the 19th year of Daoguang (1839), it began to build a large temple from Quanzhou, and was completed in the 21st year of Daoguang (1841). Among the people worshipping Mazu in Singapore: Yongchun Guild Hall, Xing'an Guild Hall, Ningyang Guild Hall, Qiongzhou Guild Hall, Sanhe Guild Hall, Mushan Holy Mother Palace, Yunfeng Tianhou Palace, etc.The Mazu Temple in Malaysia is the earliest one with the Qingyun Pavilion in Malacca, which was founded in the 12th year of Kangxi (1673). Later, the temples dedicated to Mazu include: Tianfu Palace, Tsinghua Palace, Qiongzhou Guild Hall Tianhou Palace, Yongchun Guild Hall, etc. In addition, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, the United States, Canada, France, etc. have also built temples dedicated to Mazu. It is no exaggeration to use "very wide-ranging" to describe the spread of Mazu's belief overseas.
