Antique Carved Mazu, Protector of the Sea, China (19415)

Description

This small antique Mazu, which translates as “Mother Ancestor,” is the tutelary deity “Protector of the Sea” who protects seafarers and is very popular among Taiwanese, Fujienese, and Cantonese sea cultures. This syncretic cult figure is the one of the most important female Taoist deities and continues to be worshipped by Taoist, Buddhist and Popular Religion followers. She is presented as a humble Empress seated on a horseshoe chair, holding her official’s girdle wearing a hat topped by a phoenix with outstretched wings and finely detailed feathers, associated with Mazu especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Her cloud collar is more than a decorative element, as clouds (yun) and cloud collars symbolize Mazu’s place in heaven. They also resemble the head of a Chinese wish-granting ruyi wand. Irwin defines her as one of the “Great Chinese Goddesses” who are imperially sanctioned divinities that epitomize the feminine role of compassionate protectors who grant health, long life and safety in distress to all devotees regardless of rank and social standing. Carved from dense wood with well-articulated features, remnants of the original red pigmentation remain and it is covered by lacquer naturally darkened from candle and incense smoke. Very good condition despite a crack on the base, a missing fingertip and expected scrapes and minor losses of pigments and lacquer due to age and use. Still highly venerated today, Mazu has been the patron saint of Taiwan since the Chinese first settled there in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Sources

Lee Irwin, “Divinity and Salvation: The Great Goddesses of China,” in Asian Folklore Studies, Indiana University, Vol. 49, 1990, pp 53-68.

Claudia Monique, “Matsu/Mazu Goddess of Sea,”  May 20, 2014.

Primal Trek, The Hidden or Implied Meaning of Chinese Charm Symbols, primaltrek