Who knows Mo Niang's story?

From Man to God: The Legend of Moline Niang

My hometown, Putian, Fujian, is the birthplace of Mazu, the goddess of the sea, and also the birthplace of Mazu belief widely circulated in coastal areas. I remember from a very young age, every year on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the whole family would always take a ferry to Meizhou Island to pray for success in life and career. When I was a child, there was no TV or movie. Going to the temple to listen to the old people telling the legendary story of Mazu has always been an excellent interest of my peers.

The legend of Lin Moniang

Historically, Mazu was a real person. Like Guan Yu and Yue Fei, he is not an imaginary idol, but a historical figure who came out of the folk and was deified. According to Records of the Sage and Diary after Seal, Lin, Zi Mo Niang, was born in Meizhou Bay Fishing Village, Putian, Fujian Province on March 23rd (AD 960), and died on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the fourth year of Emperor Taizong's reign (AD 987) at the age of 28.

From birth to death, Mazu left many touching and beautiful legends, which are still widely circulated among the people. For example:

Maureen studies medicine.

One autumn in ancient times, a once-in-a-century plague suddenly occurred in Putian, spreading as fast as a gust of wind sweeping away leaves. Some wizards and gods take the opportunity to plunder people's wealth, but they don't care about people's lives. Looking at a large number of people who were killed by the plague, Maureen was heartbroken. Maureen was angry when she saw the witch playing tricks and blackmailing people. She is determined to study medicine and treat the people. But before she could tell her parents what she thought, her mother was ill in bed.

The king is not afraid of death. What worries him is that Amor, who is in her early twenties, is not married. On this day, just after returning from patrol at sea and arriving at the room, Wang told her husband his worries in tears.

Wang was telling her husband that he pushed the door and came in. I saw her eyes were red and swollen, and there were tears on her face. This can scare my parents, because in their minds, Amo is a girl who can only laugh but can't cry. There must be a reason why she is so sad now. Before his parents asked questions, Lin Moxian spoke: "Dad, I want to study medicine. Please help me to hire a master! " Hearing this, Wang was frightened and said, "Amo, why did you think of this again?" "

"Grandma, it's not that I suddenly remembered, it's people calling me! You see how many people are missing in the village these days and how many graves are added outside the village. Just now, I saw Liu Jie's son and swallowed again. He is only eight years old! The witch cheated his family of 12 shiny silver, but she couldn't save the little life. He looked at me so piteously and shouted to me in a weak voice, "Aunt, help me. If you can save the ship in the sea, can't you save Po? "Auntie, help me!" But I ... there's nothing I can do! "Maureen said, and couldn't help crying, and her parents cried. In this case, although Wang was anxious about his daughter's marriage, he felt that there was no need to persuade her. So I had to swallow something on my lips again. Lin Weijun strongly supports her daughter's anxiety behavior, and now she promises to find a famous teacher for her daughter even if she is stepping on iron shoes.

Just as the Lins' father and daughter were worried about finding a teacher, an old man carrying a basket to collect Chinese herbal medicines suddenly came to Xianliang Port. He was unkempt and scrawny, with three grunts and two gasps. Many people would hide when they saw him, but Maureen invited the old man to his house and invited him to dinner and tea. From an early age, Maureen was willing to do good and be merciful. Out of sympathy, she invited the old man to her home. Unexpectedly, the old man turned out to be a famous doctor and mentor who lived in seclusion in the mountains. There are five sons in his family, all of whom want to make a fortune by his fame, but they are unwilling to study hard the real skill of serving the people. The old man was very sad about it. In a rage, he stayed away from his hometown, lived in seclusion in the mountains, and took pleasure in collecting medicine. In recent years, he felt physically exhausted, and he felt that he had nowhere to teach his medical skills all his life, which was very distressing. I want to take in a well-behaved, helpful protected person, but I suffer from conformity and fear of inviting wolves into the room. A few days ago, he heard the boatman moored at the foot of the mountain say that there was a hardworking and charitable Lin girl on Meizhou Island. In order to save the people, she decided to study medicine, but she suffered from no guidance. He was greatly moved by this. In order to find out the truth, he disguised himself as a dirty and eccentric sick old man and came to the island to look for his apprentice. Unexpectedly, he happened to meet the female disciple Maureen.

It's really hard to find a place to get it, and it doesn't take much effort to get it. The Lins, old and young, were surprised, and Maureen was even more excited, so he kowtowed to Master.

Since then, the old Chinese doctor has lived in the Lins' home and studied medicine with Maureen. Full of medical classics, lucky to meet a bosom friend, master teaching is like opening a gate. A good teacher who has been waiting for a long time, his disciples are like sponges in class. Take pains to speak or listen. There is a tacit understanding between master and apprentice. After three days, the old Chinese doctor said, "Well, you can see a doctor. But it's bullshit to know doctors and drugs. Now I will teach you hundreds of herbs. " After that, he opened the big basket he carried with him and took out bundles of herbs from it, explaining the name of each medicine, what disease it treats, where it grows and what season it is picked. Finally, I took out a red cloth bag more than five inches thick from the bottom of the basket. He slowly opened it, but it was a handwritten thousand medical records. The old Chinese doctor caressed the book and said, "This is the experience accumulated in my life, and it is also an heirloom that all my five sons want to compete for. Let me give you a reference! Let it accompany you to serve the people, and the old man will die without regret. "

Maureen took the book in her hands and held it tightly in her arms. She was so excited that she didn't say a word, but nodded deeply.

The so-called master leads the door, and further study is in the individual. The old Chinese doctor spent four days instilling his lifelong medical knowledge into Maureen. How hard does it take her to understand all this?

God helps Cao Zhou break the waves.

Mazu belief spread rapidly in Yuan Dynasty. This not only meets the needs of the development of China's maritime industry, but also has a lot to do with the transformation from water transportation to maritime transportation in Yuan Dynasty. After the Yuan Dynasty made the capital of Dadu (Beijing), most of them became the political and cultural center of the whole country, but they were not yet economic centers. The army, officials and people in Kyoto have to rely on Jiangnan for food supply, and 3.6 million stones of food are shipped out of Jiangnan every year. Due to the disrepair of the canal, the river channel is blocked, water boats can't pass, and food supply is in short supply. After the successful sea trial in the 19th year of Yuan Dynasty (1282), the water transportation was changed from river transportation to sea transportation. However, the risk of transporting grain at sea is high, and the sea is often attacked by typhoons and waves, and shipwrecks often occur. In order to ensure the water transport safety of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, only Poseidon can be turned to. In this way, Mazu, who defends the country, is regarded as the patron saint of grain transportation by people. Here, I want to tell you a story about Tian Fei Mazu helping to transport grain.

It is said that in the spring of three years in Yuan Wenzong (1330), 780 royal grain ships were loaded with rice, corn and wheat. Shipped from Liujiagang Kaiyang, Taipingjiang Road, Taicang City, Jiangsu Province to zhi gu (Tianjin), Hebei Province. The fleet suddenly encountered a typhoon in the middle, and the waves beat against the sea and sky, shaking the stars and floating the mast; Thousands of officers and men guarding grain transportation were frightened to disgrace, out of their wits, crying for land. The grain officer was at a loss, and the sailors were in a mess, afraid of being buried in the sea and unable to complete the sacred life of the son of heaven.

At that time, offering sacrifices to Mazu has become one of the national festivals. From Putian and Xinghua to zhi gu, Hebei Province, many ports along the coast have Mazu Tempel, and Mazu statues and incense are generally enshrined on ships. People believe in Mazu, and officials also believe in Mazu. Therefore, at this extremely critical moment, the grain official had to kneel down and plead with Mazu, the sea god: "The country takes grain transportation as its priority, and the trough takes divine power as its life. In the past, grain transportation relied on the help of the gods, and there was no danger of wind and waves in the rivers and seas. Both the ruling party and the opposition party are celebrating Ying Ning. Now, I'm going to the north to transport grain on the orders of the son of heaven. There is a strong wind today, and I pray for the safe and smooth transportation of grain. I should be grateful in the future! "

Before the vows are finished, dark clouds cover the sky and the auspicious light shines. In a trance, I saw a green coat standing in front of the boat. Blink of an eye, the mast lit a fire, glittering and translucent as a rainbow. The people on board looked at each other with surprise and joy. Soon, it was calm.

At this time, more than 700 wandering grain ships are preparing to assemble. While sorting out the awning cable, they untied the cable and pushed forward. They heard someone shouting in the air: "We can temporarily park on the southeast island!" " The grain officer listened with a grain of salt and dared not answer. "。 But the sailors thought it was Mazu's order in the sky, and they all punted to the southeast island. Whether you like it or not, it is necessary to stop there temporarily for repair and rest.

Just as more than 700 grain ships sailed into South Australia, an isolated island in the southeast, all of them were thrown overboard, and the sea frenzy broke out immediately, and the rainstorm pushed the mountain down the gorge at an extremely fast speed. The sailors on the ship comforted each other and said, "If it weren't for Mazu's instructions, we would all be in jiaozi Cave in Kameyama Palace."

The next day, after the rain cleared, the spring was bright and the waterway was safe. The grain ship arrived in Zhigu smoothly, delivered the grain to the government warehouse and returned safely.

God helps to transport grain and save the day. Tian Fei Mazu has the function of "keeping good luck" and was awarded the title of "spiritual gift" by the Central Secretariat. He also ordered the Hanlin Academy to draft a memorial ceremony for the Tianfei Palace along the coast, sent officials to deliver the ceremony, and made a special trip to Meizhou Ancestral Temple.

In addition, some of Maureen's legends are also recorded in Tianhou Zhi and Tian Fei's Epiphany. For example:

Pray for rain to help the people: According to legend, when Mazu was twenty-one, there was a drought in Putian, and all the people in the county said that Mazu could not save the disaster. Therefore, Yinqin County turned to Mazu for help. Mazu prayed for rain and said that it would rain heavily in Renqi. On that day, there was not a clear sky in the morning, and there was no sign of rain at all. As soon as the application was made, suddenly dark clouds rolled and it rained cats and dogs. After a long drought, the earth regained its former vitality.

It is said that when Mazu was alive, there was a doorknob on the west side of Meizhou Island (today's Wen Jia). Once, a merchant ship was blown by a strong wind on the nearby sea, and the sea water poured into the cabin and was about to sink. The villagers were afraid to rescue them when they saw the crazy waves. At this critical moment, Matsu Shinshou found some grass under his feet and threw it into the sea. The grass turned into a row of big sequoias, which were attached to the sinking merchant ship and saved the merchant ship and the people on board.

Flood relief: According to legend, when Mazu was twenty-six, it rained continuously in the first half of that year, and Fujian and Zhejiang provinces were severely flooded. At that time, local officials called in the imperial court, and the emperor made an order to pray for rain on the spot, but the prayer remained the same. The local people asked Mazu to relieve the injury. Mazu said: disasters are caused by people accumulating evil. Since the emperor intends to relieve the harm for the people, I should pray for God's forgiveness. So I burned incense and prayed, and suddenly there was a strong wind, and I saw a dragon flying away in the clouds, and the sky was clear. That year, the people also got a bumper harvest, and the people were grateful to Mazu, so the provincial officials asked the court for praise and praised Mazu.

Mei Yufei was born in Song Taizong in the fourth year of Yongzheng, and Mazu was twenty-eight years old. The day before the Double Ninth Festival, he said to his family, "My heart is so clean that I don't want to live on earth. Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival, and I want to climb the mountain. Say goodbye to you in advance. " The family thought she was going to climb the mountain and overlook it, but they didn't know she was going to become an immortal. The next morning, after burning incense and chanting, Mazu bid farewell to his sisters and headed straight for the highest point of Mae Peak. At this time, there were thick clouds on the top of Meifeng Peak, and Mazu turned into a white light and went straight into the sky, leaving with the wind. Since then, Mazu has often appeared to protect the country and the people and save people from danger. The local people were grateful to her and built a temple in Mei Feng. It is said that the cliff "Ascension Monument" behind the ancestral hall is where Mazu flew.

These stories are similar, mainly about saving sunken ships, exorcising demons, saving lives, eliminating floods and praying for rain to benefit the people. Although some stories are close to magic and grotesque, they embody the spirit of Mazu's filial piety, loyalty, sadness, kindness, eliminating evil and promoting good, and helping the world and saving people all his life. It is this spirit that touched people and made them reverently regard Mazu as the goddess of heaven and the goddess of the sea.

The legendary image of Mazu

1. Xingmei

Compared with the goddess in China mythology, the image of Mazu in folk stories is more dignified and beautiful. She doesn't have the "leopard's tail and tiger's teeth" of the western queen mother, nor is she as scary as Nu Wa, nor is she as scary as Ma Gu's humanoid bird's paw, which makes people flinch. Dressed in red and wearing a poncho, she is "a girl in a graceful season, completely graceful" (the language of the queen of heaven). She is beautiful, noble and amiable, and is the embodiment of truth, goodness and beauty.

2. Sacred beauty

In the Qing Dynasty, Zhao Yi wrote a passage in "Examination of Jade Cong": "The communication in Taiwan Province Province is particularly miraculous, and the natives call it Mazu. If there is a crisis in the storm, calling Mazu is sent by God, and its effect is effective. When calling Tian Fei, God will come with a crown and fear that moment. " In the legend of Mazu, Mazu appeared as gentle and kind as a loving mother. In this gentleness and kindness, it is a temperament that dares to help others and solve their worries. Perhaps it is this charm of inner beauty that attracts many devout people.

If we want to interpret the image of Mazu, I think the image of Mazu shows people's desire, wisdom and strength to conquer natural forces actively, and arouses people's positive emotions of changing and mastering their own destiny through their own struggle. The legends of Mazu, such as "treating diseases with grass", "saving industry", "saving father and finding brother", "crossing the sea by sitting on the ground" and "saving hunger and disaster relief", almost run through her strong belief of self-esteem and self-help, thus showing people's creative activities and fighting spirit and affirming the power of human nature, which is what people pursue but is extremely difficult to achieve.

Most of China's myths and legends are centered on the truth in history. It can be said that the direct expression of the hearts and wishes of the working people in ancient China is very secular, which can give people a sense of intimacy, comfort and sustenance, and even give people strength. Some people say that myth is not only a reflection of some superstitious ideas of human beings in the age of scientific ignorance, but also a symbol of good wishes and ideals arising from people's struggle with nature and destiny. Here, in the process of legend spreading, people constantly give Mazu more power, turning it from a child with special abilities into a goddess of heaven and sea who helps the world and saves mankind.

Gradual change: from man to god

A little sorting and analysis of Mazu legends can be found. In the process of legend spreading, Mazu's function is constantly changing. Mazu was originally the land god of Meizhou Island, and became a sea god after moving to the mainland. Later, Mazu's status among coastal and island residents became higher and higher, and its influence became more and more profound. Mazu's responsibilities are expanding day by day, and he gradually becomes an omnipotent god.

1, protect navigation

Here, Mazu is the messenger of maritime security. She saved the wrecked ship from danger with magical witchcraft. Mazu has always been a dutiful patron saint of navigation in folk myths and legends.

2, rain and drought resistance

Here, Mazu is the messenger of heaven and earth. In case of drought, villagers offered sacrifices to Mazu and prayed for rain, and Mazu cast spells to sow rain. When it is rainy and waterlogged, people also pray to Mazu for sunny weather.

3. Ask the child to protect the baby

Mazu is regarded by coastal residents as the god who dominates everything, including fertility worship. Infertile women must go to the palace to worship the heavenly princess, and also "tie dolls" to pray for early birth. Believers often call Mazu the "Mother of Heaven", which is both a model of loyalty and filial piety and a goddess of fertility. Therefore, once many devout believers encounter diseases and epidemics, they will pray for Mazu's treatment, thinking that Mazu has the ability to drive away epidemics and can use magic to save people.

4. Dominate the outcome of the war

It is said that Mazu has great magical powers, and has shown great power on the battlefield many times, becoming the spiritual pillar of people in the war. There were frequent wars along Fujian coast in Song Dynasty. In order to win, we often ask Mazu for help. However, the position of this god of war was basically fabricated in past dynasties, and Mazu was used to suppress the peasant uprising.

Why should this function be extended? There is a premise that people have absolute piety and belief in Mazu. On the other hand, through the expansion of Mazu's function, people put more hopes on themselves, and the rulers praised them for realizing their wishes. In this way, thousands of years later, there appeared such a perfect Mazu who seemed omnipotent.

Conclusion:

As an ordinary folk woman, Mazu has never done earth-shattering feats, left any works, let alone any ideological system in her short life. However, according to their own wishes and ideals, people have fabricated many concrete, vivid and even magical life stories for her, and shaped her into an intelligent, enlightened, loving labor, compassionate and loving, helping the poor, bravely protecting the country and the people, and respectable and amiable goddess. This reflects people's affirmation, appreciation and pursuit of some traditional values and moral spirit with distinctive national characteristics. This is also an important reason why Mazu belief and worship, as a cultural phenomenon, have been so long and widely popular. It is precisely because Mazu culture contains such values and moral spirit that all previous dynasties attached importance to and played its educational function. For example, the poem of Huang Gongdu, the top scholar in the Song Dynasty, said: "It is said that Li Ze is still alive" and "still saves energy and national merit after death". For another example, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty wrote a poem: "Help the weak and help the poor, come and listen at the call." More interestingly, a few decades ago, Taiwan Province Province made a film about Mazu, with the story and theme of promoting an ancient heroine. One paragraph in his recommendation book reads: "Mazu is a girl. She only lived 29 years. She has never been a big official or made a fortune. Her short-lived deeds, only "filial piety" and "helping others", have won such respect from future generations. There are many political figures in history, and no one respects her main temple in later generations, because her political performance is often not directly related to the people. Mazu's performance is universal and mass, which has a direct and close relationship with the people, especially those who live on the sea. As far as social education is concerned, Mazu's deeds are really good and effective ethics textbooks and should be paid more attention to. "