Mazu’s legacy unites cultures through time

MELAKA: The Mazu Exhibition Hall at the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum in Bandar Hilir marks the historic city’s maritime history and its deep-rooted cultural ties with China, says state MCA Chairman Datuk Wira Lim Ban Hong.

“The establishment of this exhibition hall enriches the state’s cultural landscape and marks another important step in Malaysia-China cultural relations,” he said, adding that he is honoured to officiate the hall’s opening on Saturday (April 20).

Long before satellites guided ships and GPS plotted safe courses across oceans, ancient Chinese seafarers relied on “Mazu,” the revered goddess of the sea, for protection during perilous journeys.

For generations, this Chinese goddess was a spiritual guide in treacherous waters, embodying compassion, courage, and maritime safety.

Even the famed Admiral Cheng Ho, one of history’s greatest navigators, sought Mazu’s blessings before embarking on his legendary voyages, including his historic visits here in the 1400s.

The oldest.Mazu statue preserved in Melaka.

Today, the legacy of this guardian deity continues to unite cultures and communities around the world.

Mazu is believed to be the deified form of a young woman named Lin Mo from Meizhou Island in Fujian, China, who lived in the 10th century and remains an icon of spiritual strength for over 350 million devotees worldwide.

A statue of Mazu has stood in Melaka for nearly three centuries, silently witnessing the historic city’s maritime history and its deep-rooted cultural ties with China.

“It’s a vivid example of people-to-people connectivity and contributes to enhancing the appeal of local cultural tourism,” he said when interviewed on Tuesday (April 22).