Statue of Mazu

Statue of Mazu

Mazu, also known as Tianfei, Tianhou, Tianhou Dame and niangma, is a Taoist deity believed by shipmen, sailors, tourists, businessmen and fishermen of all ages. In ancient times, when sailing on the sea, ships were often attacked by wind and waves, and ships sank and people died. The safety of the crew became the main problem of the navigators, and they pinned their hopes on the blessing of the gods. Therefore, the statue of Mazu should be set up. Before the ship sets sail, it is necessary to offer sacrifices to the imperial concubine, pray for the wind and safety, and set up the imperial concubine's throne on the ship.

Historical legend

Mazu, as a folk God praying, Taoist God, escorting the sea god, has spread for more than a thousand years since the Song Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. Temples dedicated to Mazu are found in all coastal provinces and cities in China, such as Putian, Chaozhou, Jieyang, Shantou, Shanwei, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Leizhou, Zhanjiang, Hainan and other provinces in the mainland except Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet. Mazu palace collection is a collection of records of Mazu temples in more than 500 counties and cities in 30 provinces and cities (including Hong Kong and Macao). With the development of air transportation between the Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty, Chinese people also traveled all over the world, including Japan, Southeast Asia, Canada, the United States, France, Paris, Denmark and Brazil in South America.

Distribution

Mazu temple in Meizhou is located on the mountain of zumiao in the north of Meizhou Island. In 1993, a huge stone statue of Mazu with a height of 14.35 meters was built in front of the main hall, facing the Taiwan Strait and being admired by compatriots on both sides of the Strait. The stone steps from Shanmen to shengtianlou have 323 levels, and the stone steps from Tianlou to Mazu stone statue have 99 levels, which contain the meaning of "3.23" and "9.9", that is, Mazu's birthday and the month of ascending to heaven.

The world's largest golden statue of Mazu

On April 11, 2014, the opening ceremony of the world's largest golden Mazu statue was held in Shunji Hall of Meizhou ancestral temple in Putian, Fujian Province. On the same day, more than 3000 believers from nearly 1000 Mazu temples on both sides of the Strait, including 100 temples in Taiwan, gathered on Meizhou Island to worship Mazu.

The gold statue of Mazu was cast in 278 working days by foundry experts from both sides of the Taiwan Straits. It is 3.23 meters high and uses 323 kilograms of pure gold. It means that Mazu was born on March 23. The total cost is as high as 106.86 million yuan. It is the largest and heaviest gold statue in the world.

Statue of Mazu

On April 29, 2016, a 3.23-meter-high statue of Mazu, a giant clam, was set up in Kaiguang, Meizhou Island, Fujian Province, the "hometown of Mazu", attracting tens of thousands of Mazu believers at home and abroad to pay homage and pray for peace. This statue of Mazu is designed by Fang Wentao, a master of Chinese arts and crafts. It consists of 323 pieces of Mazu. It is the largest statue of Mazu in the world and will apply for the Guinness world record. This is another masterpiece of Mazu temple in Meizhou after the world's largest stone carvings, white marble, jadeite, gold statue, bronze, mahogany and other Mazu statues.

The world's largest mahogany Mazu statue

Seated in Chaotian Pavilion of Mazu temple in Meizhou, Putian City, this mahogany statue of Mazu weighs 4 tons, stands 3.23 meters, and has a base of 0.99 meters. Its face is carved with reference to the face shape of Mazu in Queen's palace in Lukang, Taiwan. It wears a crown, lantern and yellow robe. The raw material for carving Mazu statue is a rosewood log, nearly 5 meters long and 1.95 meters in diameter. It was transported back from Brazil by Meizhou resident Gao Yuming and donated to the ancestral temple.

Cloisonne Mazu

The statue of Mazu in cloisonne, located in Putian guild hall of Mazu temple in Meizhou, Putian City, Fujian Province, was created by Lin Hui, a master of traditional Chinese arts and crafts from Hanjiang, Putian City, and the fifth generation inheritor of Lin's copper casting and wire pinching enamel. It is 3.23 meters high and has been completed in nearly two years through dozens of complex processes. The statue is made of more than 500 kilograms of red copper. Nearly 200000 pieces of copper wire are inlaid with 4 dragons and 10 phoenixes, more than 40 peonies, 5 lotus flowers, 18 butterflies, 20 auspicious clouds and tens of thousands of cloud patterns. Using pure natural mineral enamel glaze to mix out seven colors, through eight times of kiln refining and firing, more than 3000 grams of pure gold is made by traditional gilding process.

Stone statue of young Mazu

The stone statue of young Mazu is located in Tianhou ancestral temple of xianlianggang in Gangli village, Shanting Township, Xiuyu District, Putian City, Fujian Province. The statue was inaugurated on March 23, 2010.

The stone statue of Mazu in Tianhou ancestral temple is 15.13 meters high. It stands on the top of the ancestral temple park, facing Mazu city under construction.

Address: Huandao East Road (near shizhoutou, Huangcuo)

Longitude: 118.19813422309

Latitude: 24.500007595486

Chinese PinYin : Ma Zu Xiang