Mazu (goddess) - Goddess

Goddess

After her death, the families of many fishermen and sailors began to pray to Mazu in honour of her acts of courage in trying to save those at sea. Worship of her spread quickly. Much of her popularity in comparison to other sea deities resulted from her role as a compassionate motherly protector in contrast to authoritarian father figures like the Dragon Kings. However Mazu is unique as she is portrayed as both an authoritative deity and a compassionate being. She is usually depicted wearing a red robe, and sitting on a throne. As often happens to revered folk heroes in Chinese culture, she became an empress figure during the Yuan Dynasty.

Read more about this topic:  Mazu (goddess)

Famous quotes containing the word goddess:

    God may be in the details, but the goddess is in the questions. Once we begin to ask them, there’s no turning back.
    Gloria Steinem (b. 1934)

    Vulgarity is, in reality, nothing but a modern, chic, pert descendant of the goddess Dullness.
    Dame Edith Sitwell (1887–1964)

    Teenage girls are extremists who see the world in black-and- white terms, missing shades of gray. Life is either marvelous or not worth living. School is either pure torment or is going fantastically. Other people are either great or horrible, and they themselves are wonderful or pathetic failures. One day a girl will refer to herself as “the goddess of social life” and the next day she’ll regret that she’s the “ultimate in nerdosity.”
    Mary Pipher (20th century)