Matsu Tianhou Temple Introduction
According to historical records, Mazu, originally named Lin Mo-niang, sacrificed herself at the age of 16 to save her father and brother who were caught in a storm while fishing at sea, resulting in her tragic death. It is said that her body drifted to Aokou in present-day Matsu. Grateful for Lin Mo-niang's filial piety, the villagers of Matsu buried her in the spiritual shrine of the Matsu Village Tianhou Temple. The most unique feature of the Matsu Tianhou Temple is the presence of Mazu's spiritual shrine, referred to by locals as the "living shrine." This temple undergoes renovation approximately every 20 years, but it is said that Mazu has repeatedly manifested to instruct that the stone coffin shrine must not be altered in any way. Only in recent years has Mazu, showing compassion for the many tourists, agreed to allow the temple to cover the shrine with reinforced glass and surround it with carved guardian dragons.
