明清时期海南岛的妈祖信仰

A Study of the Worship of Ma Tsu in Hainan Island During the Ming and Qing Dynasty

通过系统考察明清时期海南妈祖庙分布以及其所反映的规律,探讨海南妈祖信仰兴盛的原因,并述及妈祖信仰经由海南人传到海外的情况以及妈祖崇拜在东南亚海南华人崇拜中的地位。

Ma Tsu is traditionally worshipped as the Goddess of the Sea in China. Studies in the worship of Ma Tsu in Hainan Island are scanty despite the fact that the island is the second largest in China. In fact, worshiping of Goddess Ma Tsu of fairly great significance in the history of Hainan Island, especially during the Ming and Qing Dynasty when such worship prospered. This paper looks into a series of issues covering the rise and distribution of Ma Tsu Temples on Hainan Island, the spreading of Ma Tsu worship overseas by Hainanese, as well as the importance of Ma Tsu worship to overseas Chinese in Southeast Asian countries.