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A-Ma and the Rescue at Sea

In short: In Macao and Meizhou, two different rescue stories surround the protector of seafarers known as A-Ma or Mazu.

A-Ma and the Rescue at Sea · The shore after the storm FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 235 A-Ma and the Rescue at Sea In Macao and Meizhou, two different rescue stories surround the protector of seafarers known as A-Ma or Mazu. Origin Meizhou Island, China Atlas record 2009 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF The shore after the storm Reach¹ 2/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 3 records · 2 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Meizhou Island, China

In the legend told by Macao’s tourism office, A-Ma calms a storm threatening a boat. The sailors build a temple where they come ashore. In UNESCO’s 2009 account from Meizhou, Mazu dies trying to rescue shipwreck survivors, and island residents build a temple in her honour. Both stories connect danger at sea with a building on land, but the rescues end differently.

Dated records and sources

  1. 2009 · Meizhou Island, China
    UNESCO · Mazu belief and customs · 4.COM 13.18 · Heritage listing
  2. 2025 · Barra, Macao
    Macao Government Tourism Office · A-Ma Festival · April 2025 programme · Heritage listing
  3. Undated · Barra, Macao
    Macao Government Tourism Office · A-Ma Festival · legend of the storm · Public retelling

Country pages

Origin
Black Horse. A-Ma and the Rescue at Sea. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-a-ma-sea-rescue/