This is actually no great wonder. A glance through the annals of the Matsu religion shows that official advocacy and encouragement were the most important reasons for Matsu's transcendence from a country witch to the Empress of Heaven and her deification as the national guardian spirit of navigation.
這其實也不足為奇，翻開媽祖信仰的歷史，媽祖能由一名鄉間的巫女，一直受封到天妃、天后，成為全國性的航海保護神，最重要原因就是官方的提倡和褒揚。