Tianhou Temple, Shenzhen’s Soul


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By Steve Peer,

In the Nanshan District is the small town of Chiwan. Now an industrial port, the area holds an important folk relic. The Tianhou Temple was first built in 1410. Tianhou, commonly called Matsu, is considered the Mother of Heaven. She is also the Goddess of the Sea and worshipped by sailors and fishermen across south-east Asia.

Tianhou: The goddess stands behind offerings of incense from those who come to pray by Steve Peer on In The Know TravelerTianhou was reportedly born in 960 AD on an island off the coast of China. Her family fished the sea, and she was an excellent swimmer. One of the miracles attached to the future-goddess was saving her brother from drowning during a typhoon. She held him out of the water while she was at home, in a trace. Legends say she either died searching for her father’s body, who was killed in the storm, or flew from a mountain top to join the gods. Her fame spread, and there are more than 1500 temples dedicated to her in 26 countries.

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