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Songzi Niangniang (, "The Maiden Who Brings Children"), also referred to in
Songzi Niangniang (, "The Maiden Who Brings Children"), also referred to in Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
as Zhusheng Niangniang (), is a Taoist
Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmony with the ''Tao'' ...
fertility goddess. She has been identified with many historical figures. She is often depicted as Guan Yin
Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She w ...
herself in drawings, or alternatively as an attendant of Guan Yin; Guan Yin herself is also often referred to as "Guan Yin Who Brings Children". She is depicted as an empress figure, much like Xi Wangmu
The Queen Mother of the West, known by various local names, is a mother goddess in Chinese religion and mythology, also worshipped in neighbouring Asian countries, and attested from ancient times. From her name alone some of her most importan ...
and Mazu. She is often portrayed as an attendant to Bixia Yuanjun.
Legends
There are different stories and legends of different Chinese goddesses of fertility in different parts of China. Zhusheng Niangniang is a goddess figure derived from three goddesses recorded in the Ming dynasty novel ''Investiture of the Gods
''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese names () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Cons ...
''. The three goddesses are younger sisters of the god of wealth Zhao Gongming
Zhao Gongming (), also known as Zhao Gong Yuanshuai (), is the martial god of wealth in Chinese folk religion. Zhao Gongming is the most notable among various forms of Caishen, and his birthday is commemorated on the fifth day of the first lunar m ...
, named Zhao Yunxiao, Zhao Qiongxiao
Qiongxiao Niangniang (), also known as Zhao Qiongxiao, is a Chinese goddess of childbirth. She is the second of the Sanxiao Shengmu (Holy mothers of three skies, 三霄聖母) or Sanxiao Niangniang (Ladies of three stars, 三霄娘娘). Sanxiao ...
and Zhao Bixiao
Bixiao Niangniang (), also known as Zhao Bixiao, is a Chinese goddess of childbirth. She is the youngest of the Sanxiao Shengmu (Holy mothers of three skies, 三霄聖母) or Sanxiao Niangniang (Ladies of three stars, 三霄娘娘). Sanxiao Niang ...
. Later on, the three goddesses were combined into three in one, known as Zhusheng Niangniang.
In Taoist painting and sculpture, she is a goddess of birth and childcare is in charge of pregnancy, delivery of infant, protection of mother and child. She holds a book and a brush reflecting the Chinese practise of recording new born child in the family lineage records. Many temples have a shrine dedicated to her in one of the side halls and she may sometimes appear together with other goddess of fertility.
References
Fertility goddesses Deities in Taoism {{Tao-stub