Chinese sea goddess Mazu statues flown to Taiwan island on cultural exchange

Two statues of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu departed from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport on Saturday, boarding Xiamen Airlines flight MF881, were flown to the island of Taiwan for cultural exchange, according to a report by Chinanews.com, the official website of the China News Service, on Sunday.

Mazu is the deified form of a devoted woman named Lin Mo, who lived in the 10th century, dedicated herself to helping those in need, and died attempting to rescue shipwreck victims at the age of 27.

In memory of Mazu's benevolence and dedication to others, local people started venerating her statue and consecrating her as the goddess of oceans who could bring peace, fortune and good luck. She is widely worshiped in Taiwan island and other coastal regions of southeast China.

At the check-in counter, a specially printed boarding pass bearing the name "LIN MO" stood out. This marks the third custom boarding pass Xiamen Airlines has issued for Mazu this year, according to the report.

For this journey, the statues were larger compared with the previous statues that entered Taiwan from mainland, and carried more accompanying ritual items. Xiamen Airlines coordinated in advance with Xiamen airport customs, border inspection, and security teams to ensure a smooth departure.

A dedicated check-in counter and exclusive waiting area were arranged, along with a green security channel. Besides, the statues were fitted with custom extended seat belts and secured with red cords, ensuring their safety and "symbolizing cross-Straits unity," said the report.

Mazu is widely seen as a cultural link between the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan, playing a key role in cross-Straits exchanges. Centuries ago, early settlers from the mainland brought their devotion to Mazu, now revered as the "Goddess of the Sea," to the Taiwan island.

Today, Taiwan is home to more than 500 Mazu temples and millions of followers. In 1997, the Meizhou Mazu statue (the most worshipped among Mazu's followers) from the mainland made its first journey to Taiwan aboard Xiamen Airlines.