30-Second Overview: Every year on the 15th day of the third lunar month, the birthday of Baosheng Dadi (保生大帝), winds are certain to blow; on the 23rd day of the same month, Mazu's (媽祖) birthday, rain is certain to fall. Taiwanese people use the proverb "Da Dao Gong's wind, Mazu's rain" to record these meteorological patterns spanning millennia. However, folk legends say this is due to an unfinished love story between these two deities.
In Taiwan, there is a long-standing weather proverb: "Da Dao Gong's wind, Mazu's rain" (大道公風、媽祖婆雨). This phrase is not merely an observation of meteorological phenomena; it carries the most moving love story in Taiwanese folk religion—a saga of love and resentment between two guardian deities that continues to play out every spring amidst the wind and rain.
The Origins of the Two Deities
Mazu, born Lin Mo-niang (林默娘), was a woman from Meizhou during the Song Dynasty who became a deity after drowning while attempting a rescue; she is revered as the goddess of the sea. Da Dao Gong (大道公), born Wu Ben (吳夲) with the courtesy name Hua-ji (華基), was a man from Quanzhou, Tong'<0xC2>an in the Northern Song Dynasty. A master of medicine, he is known as Baosheng Dadi (保生大帝) and is a vital medical deity in Taiwanese folk belief.
Both deities originate from Southern Fujian (Minnan) and hold significant positions in Taiwan's folk religion. Mazu protects fishermen on their voyages, while Da Dao Gong heals the sick; originally, they each performed their respective duties without interference. However, folk imagination has woven for them a love story that transcends the realms of the living and the dead.
A Tragedy of Rejected Proposal
According to folk legend, after Mazu and Da Dao Gong ascended to heaven, they frequently patrolled coastal areas to aid those affected by typhoons, shipwrecks, or epidemics. During these acts of salvation, the two often encountered one another. Da Dao Gong gradually became captivated by Mazu's compassion and beauty, falling in love at first sight.
One day, Da Dao Gong mustered the courage to propose to Mazu, only to be sternly rejected. Mazu rebuked him, stating that as a deity, he should not harbor worldly desires, nor should he allow himself to be distracted from his sacred mission of saving lives. Rejected and feeling both angry and anxious—fearing Mazu might report this incident to the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝) and lead to severe consequences—Da Dao Gong's heart changed.
From then on, the relationship between the two became subtle and tense; the love in Da Dao Gong's heart transformed into resentment, leading him to seek opportunities for retaliation.
The Battle of Wind and Rain in the Third Lunar Month
The turning point occurred on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, Mazu's birthday. On this day, as Mazu went on her divine procession, Da Dao Gong saw his chance for revenge. He performed a spell, suddenly bringing down a torrential downpour that left Mazu drenched and disheveled.
Mazu, calculating the cause with her finger, realized Da Dao Gong was playing tricks and decided to return the favor. The following year, on the 15th day of the third lunar month—Da Dao Gong's birthday—Mazu performed a spell to conjure fierce winds, blowing Da Dao Gong's official black hat (烏紗帽) to the ground and causing his procession to fall into disarray.
Since then, every year on the 15th day of the third lunar month, winds are certain to blow for Da Dao Gong's birthday, and on the 23rd day, rain is certain to fall for Mazu's birthday, becoming Taiwan's most accurate spring weather forecast. Folk tradition holds: "March 15, Da Dao Gong's wind; March 23, Mazu's rain."
The Sacred Significance of "Washing the Path" Culture
Interestingly, Taiwanese folk belief offers another interpretation for the wind and rain during divine processions, known as the culture of xi lu (洗路) or xi xiang lu (洗香路) ("washing the path" or "washing the fragrant path"). Believers believe that deities bring rain before a procession to wash away the dust within their domain, preparing for the sacred parade.
This concept of "washing the path" applies not only to Mazu and Da Dao Gong but also to other deities. For instance, followers of Baoyi Zunwang (保儀尊王) explain that heavy rain serves to drive away pests from crops, fulfilling his role as a protector of agriculture.
From a practical perspective, a rain shower before a divine procession is indeed beneficial: it lowers the temperature and increases coolness, making the experience more comfortable for the devotees participating in the festivities. This integration of natural phenomena and religious culture demonstrates the wisdom of Taiwan's folk beliefs.
The Modern Continuation of Love and Resentment
In some versions of the story, the "battle of magic" between Da Dao Gong and Mazu is even more nuanced. During Mazu's birthday, Da Dao Gong brings rain to wash away the powder from Mazu's face, allowing devotees to see her truest self. Conversely, during Da Dao Gong's birthday, Mazu conjures wind to reveal his scarred appearance (as Da Dao Gong once transferred the sores of patients onto himself to save them).
This act of mutual "sabotage" contains both the resentment of rejected love and a deep, underlying care for one another. As modern people say, "The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference"—even now, Mazu and Da Dao Gong communicate through wind and rain, proving they have never forgotten each other.
The Scientific Basis of the Weather Proverb
While the love story is moving, the meteorological phenomenon of "Da Dao Gong's wind, Mazu's rain" does indeed have a scientific basis. The third lunar month coincides with the Taiwanese spring, a transition period when the Northeast Monsoon shifts to the Southwest Monsoon. This period sees intense changes in weather systems, making strong winds and rainfall common.
The ancestors of Taiwan keenly observed this pattern, using stories of deities to memorize and pass down meteorological knowledge. This practice of embedding scientific observation into religious culture is a prime embodiment of Taiwanese folk wisdom.
The Hope for Reconciliation
In folk legends, if there is a day of calm weather on either Da Dao Gong's or Mazu's birthday, believers will say: "This year, Da Dao Gong and Mazu have reconciled!" This optimistic expectation reflects the Taiwanese longing for happy endings.
Every spring, when the wind and rain arrive as scheduled, people in Taiwan think not only of the changing weather but also of that eternal love story. In this tale, love can transcend life and death, and resentment can endure for millennia, yet ultimately, people still hope that the lovers will eventually be united.
Perhaps one day, when the spring winds and rains are no longer so punctual, we will know that Mazu and Da Dao Gong have finally let go of their thousand-year grudge and reconciled in the heavens. At that time, the spring in Taiwan will become even more gentle, because the deities who protect this land will have finally learned the meaning of true love.
References
- Why does it always rain during Mazu's procession and blow during Da Dao Gong's? He reveals the love and resentment between two deities, hiding an unknown love story behind it
- A fun talk about "Da Dao Gong's wind, Mazu's rain"
- Da Dao Gong and Mazu: About Baosheng Dadi
- Baosheng Dadi - Wikipedia
- Once in a romance with Mazu? "Da Dao Gong's wind, Mazu's rain"—the medical deity Baosheng Dadi's birthday today will surely bring winds?