She had four brothers who were merchants who frequently travelled on the seas. One day suddenly her arms and legs became numb and her eyes became blind. She was like this for some time. Her parents thought that she had become ill, and anxiously called out to her. She regained consciousness, and reprimanded them, saying, “Don’t you want me to my brothers? There’s nothing wrong with me.” Her parents did not understand what she was saying, but they did not question her further. |
Early in our dynasty, in the seventh year of the reign of the Yongle
emperor, the noble Zheng He travelled to the lands of the barbarians to
the south and west. He prayed at the temple to the Celestial Spouse, and
she responded as she had during the Song dynasty. When he returned, he
asked that a title be bestowed on her. She was bestowed with the title
“All-Pervading Celestial Spouse, who possesses a wondrous spirit-efficacy
and broad humanity and protects the nation and guards the people.” A shrine
to her was established in the capital, and people all over the empire prayed
to her.
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Reference Page for Online Illustrations
© 1996 by the Regents of the
University
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Department of History. All rights
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Comments to: Robert Jeremy Fish
Last updated:12/23/98