Matsu
/ˈmɑːt.suː/noun
A Western romanization of Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess and protector of sailors and fishermen.
Did you know?Matsu is a Japanese-influenced spelling of Mazu, whose worship spread across coastal East and Southeast Asia through sailors, merchants, and emigrant communities.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval China
Middle Chinese
媽祖
““Mother Ancestor” or “Maternal Ancestor,” an honorific for the sea deity”
11th–12th Century
Chinese
Mazu
“The name of the deified coastal woman Lin Moniang, worshipped as a protector of seafarers”
17th–19th Century
Japanese/Chinese usage
Matsu
“A Japanese-style rendering of the Chinese goddess’s name”
19th–20th Century
English
Matsu
“An English-language spelling used in discussions of East Asian religion, maritime history, and diaspora temples”
Modern English
English
Matsu
“A variant romanization of Mazu, the Chinese sea goddess”