Tethys (Greek)

Tethys

In Greek mythology, Tethys (Greek Τηθύς), daughter of Uranus and Gaia was an archaic Titaness and aquatic sea goddess, invoked in classical Greek poetry but not venerated in cult. Tethys was both sister and wife of Oceanus. She was mother of the chief rivers of the world known to the Greeks, such as the Nile, the Alpheus, the Maeander, and about three thousand daughters called the Oceanids. Considered as an embodiment of the waters of the world she also may be seen as a counterpart of Thalassa, the embodiment of the sea.

Dragon King of the North Sea (北海龙王)

Dragon King of the North Sea (北海龙王)

Alternative Names (異名):
北海龙王, Běihǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the North Sea, 敖明[1], Ao Ming, 敖顺[2], Ao Shun

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The Dragon King of the North Sea (Chinese: 北海龙王; Pinyin: Běihǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the North Sea. His name is Ao Ming (敖明) or Ao Shun (敖顺). He could be linked to Black Tortoise as both are Chinese gods of the north. His brothers are Ao Chin , Ao Jun and Ao Kuang

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Notes

[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.

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Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_North_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology

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Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters

Dragon King of the South Sea (南海龙王)

Dragon King of the South Sea (南海龙王)

Alternative Names (異名):
南海龙王, Nánhǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the South Sea, 敖顺[1], Ao Shun, 敖钦[2], Ao Qin

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Dragon King of the South Sea (Chinese: 南海龙王; Pinyin: Nánhǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the South Sea in Chinese mythology. His name is Ao Shun (敖顺) or Ao Qin (敖钦) In Journey to the West, hee is mentioned briefly in a battle with the Immortals over the death of their servant to the sea (which was blamed on Ao-Chin's son) and again when Monkey demanded a gift from him and he presented him a red gold cape. He could be linked to Vermilion Bird as both are southern gods in Chinese mythology.

His brothers are Ao Kuang, Ao Jun and Ao Shun.

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Notes

[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.

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Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_South_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology

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Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters

Dragon King of the West Sea (西海龙王)

Dragon King of the West Sea (西海龙王)

Alternative Names (異名):
西海龙王, Xīhǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the West Sea, 敖吉[1], Ao Ji, 敖闰[2], Ao Run

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The Dragon King of the West Sea (Chinese: 西海龙王; Pinyin: Xīhǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the West Sea. His name is Ao Ji (敖吉) or Ao Run (敖闰). Of the four Dragon Kings he is the least mentioned and very little is known about him in Journey to the West except than when Sun Wukong asked him for a gift he did give him one. He could be linked to the White Tiger as both are Chinese western gods. His brothers are Ao Kuang, Ao Chin and Ao Shun . The character Iroh in Avatar the Last Airbender's nickname is the "Dragon of the West" relating to the Dragon King of the West

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Notes

[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.

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Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_West_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology

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Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters

Dragon King of the East Sea (东海龙王)

Dragon King of the East Sea (东海龙王)

Alternative Names (異名):
东海龙王, Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the East Sea, 敖光[1], Ào Guǎng, 敖广[2]

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The Dragon King of the East Sea (Chinese: 东海龙王; Pinyin: Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng), named Ao Guang (Chinese: 敖广 or 敖光; Pinyin: Ào Guǎng) is the Dragon King of the East Sea in Chinese mythology. He appeared in different works including Fengshen Yanyi and Journey to the West.

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Fengshen Yanyi

In Fengshen Yanyi, following the passage of many years, Ao Guang had brought chaos to the world by forming disastrous droughts, storms, and so forth. Due to the people's immense fear towards the dragon king and his sons, they never reported Ao Guang's actions to the Jade Emperor. Thus, Ao Guang enjoyed countless offerings by the people throughout a time interval of many years. After Nezha cleansed himself at a neighboring stream of the East Sea, Ao Guang's palace began to shake at an annoying level. After Ao Guang's favorite investigator Li Gen and third son Ao Bing were both killed by the hands of Nezha, Ao Guang would set out to talk to Nezha's father, Li Jing. After discussing the matter with his friend for a long period of time in his state of great anger, he transformed himself back into a dragon and ascended to the heavens to state the issue to the supreme Jade Emperor. After the cruel Nezha appeared in heaven, he began to beat Ao Guang very violently. Nezha even began to tear scales from Ao Guang's dragon skin, which caused for blood to profusely spill out. In the end, the unfortunate Ao Guang was forced to turn himself into a small snake and come with Nezha back to the Old Pond Pass to forget about the incident completely.

Later on within this chapter following Ao Guang's leave from Nezha, he would once again see the Jade Emperor. Soon enough, Ao Guang, along with three other dragon kings would come to Old Pond Pass and take both Li Jing and his wife Lady Yin. Nezha however would quickly appear and claims that he will cut out every internal organ from his body as to save his parents. Ao Guang personally agrees to Nezha's resolution with happiness and brings his internal organs to the Jade Emperor. Following this point, the Eastern Dragon King Ao Guang's fate is unknown.

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Journey to the West

In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong obtained Ruyi Jingu Bang from Ao Guang. This weapon was originally a stick for measuring sea water depth by Da Yu in his flood control and treatment efforts, hence its ability to vary its shape and length. After Da Yu left, it remained in the sea and became the "Pillar holding down the sea", an unmovable treasure of the undersea palace of the Ao Guang.

One of Wukong's senior advisors had told him to seek out the dragon-kin in order to get a powerful weapon befitting his skill. There in the dragon palace, he tried out several kinds of ancient heavenly weapons, many of which bent or completely broke as he wielded them. Ao Guang's wife then suggested the "pillar" (thinking he would not be able to lift it). But when Wukong neared the pillar, it began to glow, signifying that the monkey king was its true owner. It obediently listened to his commands and shrank to a manageable size so Wukong could wield it effectively. This not only awed the dragon and his wife, it also threw the sea into confusion, since the monkey king had removed the only thing controlling the ebb and flow of the ocean's tides. In addition to the magic staff, Wukong also forced Ao Guang to give him other magical gifts; including golden chain mail, a phoenix-feather cap, and cloud-walking boots.

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Notes

[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 12.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.

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Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ao_Guang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology

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Fengshen Yanyi characters | Chinese gods | Journey to the West

Dragon King (龍王)

Dragon King (龍王)

Alternative Names (異名):
龍王, Lóng Wáng, Dragon King

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The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: Lóng Wáng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). Although Dragon Kings appear in their true forms as dragons, they have the ability to shapeshift into human form. The Dragon Kings live in crystal palaces, guarded by shrimp soldiers and crab generals.

Besides ruling over the aquatic life, the Dragon Kings also manipulate clouds and rain. When enraged, they can flood cities. According to The Short Stories on the Tang People (唐人傳奇 Tangren Chuanqi), the Qian Tang Dragon King did just that when he found out his niece had been abused by her husband. Qian Tang also ate the abusive husband.

The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea (Donghai) is said to have the largest territory.

Dragon Kings appeared commonly in literature. Detailed descriptions were given of the finery of their crystal palaces. In the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West, a Dragon King is one of the main characters in the tenth chapter.

Dragon of the East: Ao Guang (敖廣)
Dragon of the South: Ao Qin (敖欽)
Dragon of the West: Ao Run (敖閏)
Dragon of the North: Ao Shun (敖順)

The four Dragon Kings also appeared in Fengshen Yanyi. But their names are different from those in Journey to the West.

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Temples

There are numerous temples dedicated to Dragon Kings in China. One temple in Beijing was built during the Yuan Dynasty and renovated in the early 21st century. Chao-Tian Palace (朝天宮) of Beigang Township (北港鎮), Yunlin, devoted to the Goddess Mazu, also has human-shaped statues for the four Dragon Kings, each riding on a dragon. In contrast to the Dragon Kings, Mazu, although also a deity of sea, is a motherly figure who never wreaks havoc.

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See also

Nagaraja
Huang Long

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Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology

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Chinese mythology stubs | Chinese mythology | Chinese gods | Chinese dragons | Sea and river gods | Journey to the West

Ran (Norse)

Ran

The wife of Aegir, she was the sea goddess of storms. She collects drowned people in her net

Calypso (Greek)

Calypso

Calypso (Greek: Καλυψώ Kalypsō) was a sea goddess in Greek mythology. She was the daughter of the Titan Atlas, and is also known as Atlantis (Ατλαντίς[1]) in ancient Greek. Her mother was Tethys. Calypso was confined to the island of Ogygia for supporting her father and the Titans during the Titanomachy.

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Name

The origins of Calypso's name are uncertain. Καλύπτειν (kalyptein, "to cover", from which apocalypse is also derived) suggests that Calypso may originally have been a death goddess. The spelling of Calypso music reflects a later folk-etymological assimilation with the mythological name and is not otherwise related to the goddess.

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Role in the Odyssey

Calypso is remembered most for her role in Homer's Odyssey, in which she imprisons the fabled Greek hero Odysseus on her island in order to make him her immortal husband. Calypso kept Odysseus hostage at Ogygia for seven years. Odysseus, however, wants to return home to his beloved wife Penelope. His patron goddess Athena asks Zeus to order the release of Odysseus from the island, and Zeus sends Hermes to tell Calypso to set Odysseus free.

According to Hesiod, Calypso bore Odysseus two children, Nausithous and Nausinous.

The island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago has a long tradition that links it with the mythical figure of Calypso.

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Other Appearances

Calypso appears in the "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series in the fourth book The Battle of the Labyrinth, in which Percy washes up on Ogygia's shore and is cared for by Calypso. Initially, Calypso doesn't want to tell Percy that he has a choice between staying with her and being immortal, or, go and save his friends, but reluctantly does. However, although Percy cares about Calypso he leaves, but claims that she would always be his biggest "what if". In the fifth book "The Last Olympian" Percy wishes that all demigods be claimed and that "friendly titans", such as Calypso, ought to be released.

Calypso also appears in the earth-bound human form of an Obeah witch called Tia Dalma in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_(mythology)

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Characters in the Odyssey | Greek mythology | Greek goddesses | Nymphs | Nereids | Sea and river goddesses

Amphitrite (Greek)

Amphitrite

In Greek mythology, Amphitrite was a sea goddess. Sources state that she was the daughter of Nereus and Doris, which makes Amphitrite one of the fifty sea goddesses (or nymphs) who are known collectively as the Nereids. The Greek poet Hesiod lists the names of these sea nymphs in his Theogony:

"To Nereus and Doris of the lovely hair,
the daughter of Okeanos, the stream surrounding the earth,
a host of godly daughters was born in the barren sea:
Proto, Eukrante, Amphitrite, and Sao..."
(Hesiod, Theogony, 240-43)

According to the legend, the Olympian Poseidon (who was himself a god of the sea) saw Amphitrite one day and fell in love with the graceful and beautiful goddess. However, the sea nymph initially resisted Poseidon's advances. But Poseidon was not easily discouraged. He sent his sea creatures to find Amphitrite. A dolphin succeeded in locating the Nereid, and it was this creature - the dolphin - who persuaded her to consider Poseidon's proposal. Eventually, Amphitrite accepted Poseidon, and the two gods were married.

Amphitrite and Poseidon were together the parents of several children, including the sea god Triton.

Ægir (Norse)

Ægir (Aegir)

異名(Alternative Names):
Ægir, Aegir, Gymir, Hler, 아에기르

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The meaning of Ægir (Old Norse "sea") is associated with water. Ægir is a jötunn and a king of the sea in Norse mythology. He seems to be a personification of the power of the ocean. He was also known for hosting elaborate parties for the gods. In Snorri Sturluson's Skáldskaparmál, Ægir is identified with Gymir and Hlér who lived on the isle of Hlésey. The prose header of Lokasenna states that his hall is a place of sanctuary lit with bright gold and where the beer pours itself.

While many versions of myths portray him as a jötunn, it is curious that many do not. In some texts, he is referred to as something older than the jotun, and his origins are not really explained. Gymir, it may be noticed, is also the name of the giant father of the beautiful maiden Gerðr (the wife of Freyr) as well as the husband of Aurboða. Another link between the Ægir and the sea giants is found in Hymir, who is said in Hymiskviða to be the father of Týr.

Ægir is said to have had nine daughters with his wife, Rán. His daughters were called the billow maidens. They were named

Bára (or Dröfn, wave)
Blóðughadda (the one with blood-red hair – the color of the waves after a naval battle)
Bylgja (to billow, or big wave)
Dúfa (the pitching wave)
Hefring (the surging wave)
Himinglæva (the wave that reflects the light of the sky)
Hrönn (the grasping wave)
Kólga (the chilling wave)
Unnr (or Uðr, wave)

Each name reflecting a different characteristic of ocean waves. Snorri lists them twice in Skáldskaparmál but in one instance he replaces Bára with Dröfn.

Ægir is a son of Fornjótr, a giant and a king of Finland, and brother of Logi (fire, flame) and Kári (wind). In Lokasenna, he hosts a party for the gods where he provides the ale brewed in an enormous pot or cauldron provided by Thor. The story of Thor getting the pot for the brewing is told in Hymiskviða. Ægir had two servants, Fimafeng (killed by Loki) and Eldir.

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Norse mythology stubs | Sea and river gods | Jötnar | Norse deities

Njord (Norse)

Njord

God of the wind and sea, father of Frey and Freya.He is a member of the vanir and his home is Noatun. His wife was the giantess Skadi. As compensation for the death of her father Thjatsi, the gods decided to let her pick a husband from among them -- one catch, she had to pick her new husband based only on the appearance of his feet. She picked Njord by mistake, assuming his feet belonged to Balder. Njord and Skadi could not agree on where to live. She didn't like his home, and he didn't like her's, so they split up. She was associated with skiing and hunting. Snorri associated Njord with Saturn.

Mazu (媽祖)

Mazu (媽祖)

Alternative Names (異名):
媽祖(traditional Chinese), Māzǔ(Hanyu Pinyin), Ma-tsu(Wade-Giles), Má-chó(Pe̍h-ōe-jī), Mazu, Matsu, Mother-Ancestor(literally)

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Mazu (traditional Chinese: 媽祖; Hanyu Pinyin: Māzǔ; Wade-Giles: Ma-tsu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Má-chó·; literally "Mother-Ancestor"), also spelt Matsu, is the Taoist goddess of the sea who protects fishermen and sailors, and is revered as the patron saint who protects East Asians who are associated with the ocean.

Her mortal name is Lin Moniang (Chinese: 林默娘; pinyin: Lín Mòniáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Be̍k-niû).

She is widely worshipped in the south-eastern coastal areas of China and neighbouring areas, especially Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Vietnam, all of which have strong sea-faring traditions, as well as migrant communities elsewhere with sizeable populations from these areas.

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Names

Popular names:

Mazu (媽祖, literally "Mother-Ancestor"), or Mazu-po (媽祖婆, "Elder Lady Mazu")
Tian Hou (天后, literally "Heavenly Empress" or "Heavenly Queen") or Thiên Hậu in Vietnamese
Tian Fei (天妃, literally "Heavenly Princess Consort")
A-Ma (阿媽, "Grandmother")
Tianshang Shengmu or Tianhou Shengmu (天上聖母, 天后聖母, both meaning "Heavenly Holy Mother") or Thiên Hậu Thánh Mẫu in Vietnamese

Official titles:

In Southern Song Danasty, she was given the first Title as "Princess of Supernatural Favour" in A.D. 1155 by Emperor Gaozong of Song.
In the Yuan Dynasty, she was officially the "Protector of the Empire and the Brilliantly Outstanding Heavenly Princess" (護國明著天妃 Huguo Mingzhu Tianfei).
In Ming Dynasty, she was given as "Holy Mother of Heaven Above" in 1417 by the Yongle Emperor.
In the Qing Dynasty, she was made the "Heavenly Empress" (天后; Mandarin: Tiān Hòu; Cantonese: Tin Hau'). Her last imperial title was given as "Holy Mother in Heaven" in 1839 by the Daoguang Emperor.

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The person

According to legend, Lin Moniang was born in 960 (during the early Northern Song Dynasty) as the seventh daughter of Lin Yuan (林愿) on Meizhou Island, Fujian. She did not cry when she was born, and thus her given name means "Silent Girl."

There are many legends about her and the sea.

Although she started swimming relatively late at the age of 15, she soon became an excellent swimmer. She wore red standing on the shore to guide fishing boats home, even in the most dangerous and harsh weather.

According to one legend, Lin Moniang's father and brothers were fishermen. One day, a terrible typhoon arose while they were out at sea, and the rest of her family feared that those at sea had perished. In the midst of this storm, depending on the version of the legend, she either fell into a trance while praying for the lives of her father and brothers or dreamed of her father and brothers while she was sleeping. In either the trance or the dream, her father and brothers were drowning, and she reached out to them, holding her brothers up with her hands and her father up with her mouth. However, Moniang's mother now discovered her and tried to wake her, but Moniang was in such a deep trance or dream that it seemed like she was dead. Moniang's mother, already believing the rest of their family dead, now broke down, crying, believing that Moniang had also just died. Hearing her mother's cries, in pity, Moniang gave a small cry to let her mother know she was alive, but in opening her mouth, she was forced to drop her father. Consequently, Moniang's brothers returned alive (sadly without their father) and told the other villagers that a miracle had happened and that they had somehow been held up in the water as a typhoon raged.

There are at least two versions of Lin Moniang's death. In one version, she died in 987 at the age of 28, when she climbed a mountain alone and flew to heaven and became a goddess. Another version of the legend says that she died at age 16 of exhaustion after swimming far into the ocean trying to find her lost father and that her corpse later washed ashore in Nankan Island of the Matsu Islands.

Lin Moniang (2000), a minor Fujianese TV series, is a dramatization of the life of Mazu as a mortal.

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The goddess

After her death, the families of many fishermen and sailors began to pray to her in honor of her acts of courage in trying to save those at sea. Her worship spread quickly. Much of her popularity in comparison to other sea deities resulted from her role as a compassionate motherly protector, in contrast to authoritarian father figures like the Dragon Kings. She is usually depicted wearing a red robe, and sitting on a throne. As often happens to revered folk heroes in Chinese culture, she became an empress figure during the Yuan Dynasty.

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Worship

Starting from Fujian, worship of Mazu spread to the neighbouring coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong, and thence to all coastal areas of mainland China. With emigration and especially the Chinese diaspora of the 19th and 20th centuries, it further spread to Taiwan, Vietnam, Ryukyu, Japan, and South East Asia; the role of Mazu as patron of the seas ensured that newly arrived immigrants often erected temples to her first, to give thanks for arriving safely. Today, worship of Mazu is also found in other countries with sizeable populations from these regions. In total, there are around 1,500 Mazu temples in 26 countries of the world.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, around 60 temples are dedicated, at least partially to Tin Hau. The temple in the Tin Hau area, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island, has given its name to the area and to the MTR station serving it (Island Line). The Tin Hau Temple is one of the declared monuments of Hong Kong. Because of their historic significance, many Tin Hau Temples in Hong Kong were graded historic buildings.

Macau

Macau has three Tin Hau temples (one per Coloane, Macau Peninsula, and Taipa). The name Macau is thought to be derived from the Templo de A-Má (A-Ma Temple) (媽閣廟, Cantonese Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3 Miu6, local pronunciation: Maa5 Gok3 Miu6 or Maa5 Gok3 Miu5), a still-existing landmark built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Mazu.

Mainland China

Aside from Fujian, there are more than 40 temples dedicated to Mazu in Guangdong and Hainan, and more than 30 in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In northern China, there are large Mazu temples in Tianjin, Weihai, Yingkou, Qinhuangdao, Qingdao, Changdao Islands (also named "Temple Islands" after the Mazu temple there), and Penglai.

In Nanjing, the Tian Fei Palace was built by the Yongle Emperor in the Ming Dynasty, at the instigation of Admiral Zheng He after returning from his first expedition. Before and after each expedition, Zheng He would worship at the temple for Mazu's protection. Because it was a state temple built by the Emperor, this temple was the largest and enjoyed the highest status of all Mazu temples in the country. The temple was largely destroyed by Japanese bombings in 1937, but is currently being rebuilt.

In Shanghai, historically here were three principal Tian Hou Temples. During the Qing Dynasty, it was customary for diplomats departing by sea to worship at the Tian Hou Palace in the old city. All of these were progressively destroyed. The last, on the banks of the Suzhou Creek, was moved to Songjiang. This temple is now dedicated to the "Mazu of the Huangpu River". The City God Temple in the old city is also partially dedicated to Mazu.

Fujian

In Putian, the legendary birthplace of Mazu, there are hundreds of temples dedicated to the goddess, including about 20 on Meizhou island alone.

Elsewhere in Fujian, there are about 70 temples dedicated to Mazu, mostly concentrated in the coastal areas.

Heavenly Empress Temple-Meizhou Ancestral Temple (天后宮湄洲祖廟) is on her native Meizhou Island.

Malaysia

Malaysia has a long history of Taoist religion ever since the Chinese from Southern China settled in South East Asia region. The famous Thean Hou Temple(Chinese:马来西亚吉隆坡天后宫) situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Capital of Malaysia is a famous tourist destination in Asia. Few tenths thousand of other temples and statues are found throughout the country.

Every year, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is celebrated heavily especially in Penang; and the Birthday of Mazu celebrated throughout the country.

A mega project to build the world tallest Mazu statue at Northernmost tip of Borneo, Kudat was officially launched by the leader and people of Sabah recently . The statue was to measure at 10-storey high and would draw millions of tourists to the country every year. This project has however been cancelled due to protests from a few Muslims in Sabah and some political interference.

Singapore

The worship of Mazu was brought to Singapore from China by the influx of Chinese immigrants during the 19th century, a large proportion of whom came from Fujian. Two of the oldest and best known Chinese temples in Singapore, Thian Hock Keng and Yueh Hai Ching Temple, were both dedicated mainly to Mazu, and in the 19th century were frequented by immigrants who came to give thanks after a safe sea voyage from China.

Taiwan
There are about 800 to 1000 Taiwanese temples dedicated entirely or--more often--partly to Mazu. The oldest one is Great Queen of Heaven Temple (zh:大天后宮), Tainan City.

Chenlan Temple (zh:鎮瀾宮) in Tachia, Taichung County, is the most famous Mazu temple in Taiwan, and an annual pilgrimage takes place there each spring. Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) of Peikang Township (北港鎮) in Yunlin is another popular temple of Mazu in Taiwan.

There is also a major temple in Makung, on the Pescadores Islands.

Thailand

In Thailand, there are a lots of Mazu temples too, especially in cities near the sea such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Pattani, and Phuket. Many Thai Chinese worship the goddess, and some visit Fujian, China to worship her at her place of origin.

United States

Chùa Bà Thiên HậuMazu has gained popularity in the west as well. Many temples are dedicated to Mazu in Chinatowns in the United States. The oldest Taoist temple in the United States, Tin How Temple in San Francisco, built in 1852, is dedicated to Mazu. Another Mazu temple that has gained popularity in the west is located in Los Angeles, where many South East Asians are known to reside in or nearby. Known as Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu and home to the Camau Association of America, a Chinese/Vietnamese/Teochew benevolent association, it has become an immensely popular tourist attraction in Chinatown after being completed on September 5, 2005 after two years of building and an investment of around $2m. It features such attrtactions as annual 24-hour lion dances and a legal firecracker display on Chinese New Year's Eve.

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Animation

媽祖 - 海之傳說

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See also

Chinese mythology
Tin Hau, Hong Kong
Guan Yin

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Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology

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Chinese mythology | Chinese goddesses | Mother goddesses | Sea and river goddesses

Deities of water, sea, ocean and/or river

Deities by association (gods or goddesses of water, sea, ocean and/or river)

Abnoba	Gaulish	♀	She has been interpreted to be a forest and river goddess, and is known from about nine epigraphic inscriptions.
Ægir (아에기르)	Norse	♂	the god of seashore and ocean
Amphitrite	Greek	♀	sea
Mazu (媽祖)	Chinese	♀	sea, ocean, 바다, 해양
Neptunus (넵투누스)	Roman	♂	the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Poseidon
Poseidon (포세이돈)	Greek	♂	sea, ocean, 바다, 해양
Rán (란)	Norse	♀	sea goddess, wife of Ægir
河伯 (하백)	Chinese	♂	河神
若 (약)	Chinese	♂	海神

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Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Deities_by_association