Matsu is a female deity in the pantheon of popular religion, who is venerated for her ability to offer endangered seafarers’ supernatural aid. Also known as the Empress of Heaven and other honorifics, Matsu is said to have been a young woman with extraordinary power, who was accorded divine status after death.
According to historical documents, the legend of Matsu originated in a county in Fujian province in the tenth century. From there, her appeal spread through the area’s inhabitants to port cities up and down the coast of China and across the strait to Taiwan. These communities then disseminated customs and beliefs, and erected temples in Matsu’s honor, establishing a Hokkien network of communication across Southeast Asia.
Today, Matsu temples dot the landscape around Taiwan, where the sea goddess is worshiped as a paragon of virtue. Although traditional ways of life have been transformed, Matsu nonetheless remains a powerful patron for peace and prosperity in a changing Taiwan.