Tianjin Mazu Culture Research

Mastu was a woman named Lin Mo in Putian City, Fujian Province during Song dynasty. In her short-lived life, she hadn’t written any works or created any ideological systems. But she" loved laboring, never hesitated to help others, insisted on rescuing the endangered and succoring the poor, and most important of all, dedicated herself selflessly. All these noble sentiments and heroic acts fully embodied the fine traditions and traditional virtues of Chinese ethnic peoples. Mastu culture was just the embodiment of Mastu spirit and Chinese marine culture. It originated from Song dynasty and spread with the development of Chinese ocean transportation and inland river water transport. And its transmission benefited from the awarded Tianhou of Mastu from the imperial courts in all ages. The fork believes of Mastu culture in Tianjin derived from the prosperous water transports in Jing Gu. Beginning from the early Yuan dynasty, it had persisted for about seven hundred years. At first, Mastu was regarded as "Poseidon" to protect water transport of grain and as an insurance of the voyage safety on the river and at sea in Tianjin. Till now, Mastu had developed so much that it had an influence on the birth customs, dress customs, economic customs, industry customs, commerce customs and contacts customs in Tianjin. As a result, the comprehensive art forms, such as the fork culture arts, Tianjin Huanghui and fork culture and custom aroused. So Mastu culture is indeed an important part in Tianjin culture and has already been one of the most significant human phenomenons. The virtues of "Poseidon" Mastu have influenced the development of Tianjin and those people living there for generations in many ways and different levels.The paper mainly illustrates and analyses the development courses of Tianjin Mastu culture from the history angle. With the comparison between the Mastu cultures in Tianjin and Mei Zhou Island, we can clearly understand the formative factors, historical background and the sacrificing and fork features of Tianjin culture. I hope this paper will be helpful to those who would like to further understand the unique Mastu cultures in Tianjin.The paper consists of four major parts. In terms of the structure, it can be divided into the following parts.Chapter One is an introduction in which the reasons for choosing this topic and its significance are illustrated. Meanwhile, it makes a summary of the research status of Mastu culture.Chapter Two is an overview of Mastu culture. This chapter mainly talks about the development of the legends about Mastu, the origin and diffusion of Mastu believes, the distribution of Mastu temples and different kinds of ritual activities.Chapter Three represents the background and courses of Tianjin Matsu culture, and on that basis, elaborates the unique forks:Huang Hui and Shuang Wawa.In Chapter Four, the features of Tianjin Mastu culture are highlighted after the comparison and analysis of the similarities and differences between Mastu culture in Mei Zhou island and Tianjin, in terms of three items:the background of Mastu culture, ritual activities and social functions.