Tianhou, also known as Matsu or Heavenly Holy Mother, is popularly worshipped as Chinese goddess of the sea among the people in the southeastern coastal provinces and regions of China, such as Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. According to legend, her original name was Lin Muoniang, who was born in 960 (during the early Northern Song Dynasty) as the seventh daughter of Lin Yuan on Meizhou Island, Fujian. She died at 28, when she climbed a mountain alone and flew to heaven and became a goddess. Tianhou's birthday is celebrated to bring safety, security, fine weather and full nets during the coming year.
Chiwan Tianhou Palace lies at the foot of Shenzhen Xiaonan Hill, leaning on the hill and facing the sea with very beautiful scenery, reputed as the top scenic spot among Xin'an Eight Scenic Spots in the Qing and Ming Dynasties. It enjoys high reputation in Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan as well as Southeast countries, and has been a popular spot all year round, particularly during the Spring Festival and around the birthday of the goddess of the sea, March 23 of the Chinese lunar year, since 1995, when it was renovated and reopened to the public.
At present, there are around 1,500 Matsu temples in about 30 countries and regions of the world, of which some 800 to 1,000 Taiwanese temples dedicated wholly or partly to Matsu. There are reportedly about 16 million Matsu worshippers in Taiwan.
