The Birthday of Shui Wei Sheng Niang on The 15th Day of The 10th Lunar Month

Shui Wei Sheng Niang, also known as the Goddess of the Waterfront, Madam Mo or Nantian Shui Wei Sheng Niang, is a local deity Hainanese people believe to be a guardian deity who protects fishermen and islanders.

The 15th day of the 10th lunar month is the birthday of Shui Wei Sheng Niang, which is celebrated in Hainanese Associations throughout the country. Notable among these celebrations are those held at the Thean Hou Temple Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Tian Hou Kong Tumpat in Kelantan, the Tian Hou Gong Temple of Persatuan Hainan in Terengganu, the Kemaman Hainan Association Tian Hou Gong Temple in Terengganu, the Tain Hou Gong Temple in Kuantan, Pahang, the Johor Muar Hainan Association Tian Hou Gong Temple, and the Tampoi Tian How Kown in Johor. These celebrations are particularly noteworthy for their grandeur and magnificence.

Annually on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, the Selangor & Federal Territory Hainan Association conducts a ceremony to burn the Shui Wei Auspicious Light for several days. During this event, individuals from diverse backgrounds gather and participate in the lamp offering ceremony, seeking blessings of peace and prosperity. Furthermore, Buddhist priests conduct the public in the chanting of sutras and the ritual of offering sacrifice.

Folk beliefs posit that the burning of incense and the offering of prayers on this day will transform adversity into opportunity, reverse misfortune, and attain a state of equilibrium and prosperity. Hainanese people are committed to maintaining their cultural heritage and traditions, which have been transmitted from one generation to the next.

Shui Wei Sheng Niang - The Guardian of the Hainanese Sea Travellers

For the Hainanese who embarked on a voyage to Nanyang, Shui Wei Sheng Niang served as a spiritual anchor, providing solace and guidance amidst the perils of the sea.

In the early days of maritime exploration, due to the limitations of technology and the prevailing conditions, sailors were more reliant on the forces of nature. People were forced to rely on divine intervention to ensure a safe arrival at their destination. The Hainanese people believe that the Goddess of Waterfront is a deity capable of safeguarding their lives.

It is documented that during the Daoguang period, a southbound Chinese sailing ship met an unfortunate end in the port of Mao Jian. A local village sage, upon discovering the wreckage, unearthed a statue of Shui Wei Sheng Niang and transported it to the temporary residence of the Hainanese people in Terengganu, where it was enshrined. This is the genesis of the earliest known "Shui Wei Sheng Niang Temple" in Malaysia, which later became the Terengganu Qiongzhou Association

In addition to serving as a talisman of peace for Hainanese people embarking on their voyages, she also represents a spiritual pillar for Hainanese individuals who have been uprooted from their hometowns and are striving to survive and flourish in the wider world.

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