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:
“Mother,
strange goddess face
above my milk home,
that delicate asylum,
I ate you up.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“Her track, where’er the Goddess roves,
Glory pursue, and generous Shame,
Th’ unconquerable Mind, and Freedom’s holy flame.”
—Thomas Gray (1716–1771)
“The Moon! Artemis! the great goddess of the splendid past of men! Are you going to tell me she is a dead lump?”
—D.H. (David Herbert)