People & Places

Queen of Heaven

Patron Goddess of Fishermen

A protector of fisherman and sailors, Tin Hau – the Queen of Heaven – is honoured with the most prayers from coastal peoples such as the Cantonese, Fujianese, Taiwanese and Vietnamese. This goddess of the sea is also known as Mazu (or Matsu), a name which literally means '"mother ancestor". 

The real person behind the goddess was a Song Dynasty girl born in Fujian province surnamed Lin (Lam in Cantonese). Legend suggests that she could have been a shaman with the power to save the lives of seafarers caught in storms and also to heal the sick. Popular beliefs say that she saved her father (and perhaps some of her brothers too) in a terrible typhoon by flying on clouds to pluck them from the sea. 

Lin died at the age of 28 and her body reportedly was washed ashore on Nangan Island, one of the Matsu Islands in the Taiwan Strait. Today her sarcophagus sits in a temple dedicated to her on the island.

After her death, her popularity among fisherman and their families increased quickly. Her status was officially recognized as early at 1150 and in the Yuan Dynasty, she was worshipped as Tianfei, the Heavenly Concubine. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty emperor Kangxi she was elevated to even greater heights, designated as the official protector of fisherman, and given her present name.

Tin Hau is often associated with Taoism; however, strictly speaking she is neither a Taoist nor Buddhist deity. Her compassionate nature appears similar to the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Guan Yin, and she was said, in some stories, to have studied Buddhist scriptures. On the other hand, her middle-aged portrayal in empress style with imperial robes and a crown of pearls is similar to that of Taoist deities.

In temples or pictures the goddess is often flanked by two guardians or spirits – One Thousand Eyes (Qianliyan), who can spot a seafarer in need of help from a thousand li, and Favourable Wind Ears (Shunfeng'er) who can hear cries for help as fast as the wind.

Hong Kong has numerous temples dedicated to Tin Hau, normally located by the sea (or at least where the sea used to be before reclamation) and no doubt there will be many devotees celebrating her birthday on 28 April. The temple at Joss House Bay (Tai Miu Wan) in Sai Kung is Hong Kong's oldest surviving Tin Hau temple and usually the scene of many fisherfolk arriving by boat for celebrations at this time. This temple was built and dedicated to Tin Hau by two brothers who were saved from drowning by praying to the goddess and clinging to her statue. 

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To enjoy the Tin Hau Festival at Leung Shuen Wan and have the opportunity to see the heritage church of St. Joseph's at Yim Tin Tsai - check out Explore's SK Island Exploration. Boats will be leaving at 10:30am on Sunday 27 April and Monday 28 April 2008.