According to tradition, the birth of Matsu on the 23rd day of the third lunar month in the year 960 A.D. was marked by a red light descending from heaven to the small island of Meichou just off the coast of Fukien.
因為，根據民間的傳說，媽祖生前即淡泊如浮雲。自宋朝以來，媽祖就是中國人信奉的水神，她的靈力，在於救應危難。相傳媽祖於宋太祖建隆元年（距今一、○二○年）誕生於湄州。湄州是福建省蒲田縣東南海中的一個島嶼，島上居民都以捕魚為業。