Linshui Furen

Her surname was Chen, her given name was Jing, and she was also revered as Saint Mother Shuntian. She was from Xiadu, Fuzhou. person. Legend has it, Chen Jinggu was born from a drop of blood from Guanyin Bodhisattva's finger. At thirteen years old Along with Lin Jiuniang and Li Sanniang She became a disciple of Xu Zhenjun, the Great Master of the Mount Lu Sect, diligently cultivated Taoist magic, and returned to her hometown at the age of sixteen. After completing her studies, she returned to her hometown and married Liu Qi, a gentry from Gutian, Ningde. However, she continued to subdue demons and monsters, aid the distressed, and rescue the endangered, with merits such as defeating the white snake and capturing minor demons. At twenty-four, while pregnant, she sacrificed herself by praying for rain to combat drought and eliminate harm for the people. She was then deified by the villagers and revered as 'Lady Linshui.' She is known for her efficacy in protecting women and children, hence the people call her the 'Goddess who ensures safe childbirth, assists in delivery, protects the fetus, and blesses the people.'

Recorded in 'Min Du Bie Ji'

According to legend, at the age of thirteen, Chen Jinggu's parents betrothed her to Liu Qi. When Liu's family came to escort her for the wedding, Chen Jinggu locked herself in the Buddhist hall and refused to come out. Her parents forced her to marry Liu Qi, but Chen Jinggu refused. Her father, Chen Chang, in anger, snatched a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, smashed it on the ground, and broke its foot. At that moment, the 'Golden Armored God,' a guardian of Guanyin Bodhisattva, descended from the sky with a divine staff and struck Chen Chang. Chen Jinggu then vanished into thin air, and everyone searched for her in vain. The 'Golden Armored God' asked Chen Jinggu, 'If you refuse to marry, would you like to go to Lushan to learn magic?' Chen Jinggu readily agreed and went in search of the 'Lushan Great Court' on the Bailong River. The Golden Armored God escorted her from the sky.

 

During Chen Jinggu's apprenticeship at the Great Law Court of Mount Lu, her father Chen Chang and mother Ge Shi contracted a severe illness. Despite three years of treatment, all physicians were helpless. When Chen Jinggu descended the mountain, she set up an incense table, unbound her hair, donned her crown, tied a ritual skirt around her waist, held a precious sword and a cow horn trumpet, chanted scriptures and incantations, and drew spiritual talismans. She then cut flesh from her thighs to fill the wounds of her parents. She sprayed talisman water on the filled areas and applied talisman residue to the cuts. Without blood or scars, her parents' severe illness was cured.

Chen Jinggu Slaying the White Snake Spirit

Chen Jinggu Slaying the White Snake Spirit: The Min King Wang Yanzhi, who governed Fuzhou during the Tang Dynasty, favored his Queen Chen Jinfeng. The White Snake Spirit, seeking revenge for Chen Jinggu's destruction of its cave when she was eighteen to save her fiancé Liu Qi, followed the plan of the Changkeng Ghost. The White Snake Spirit abducted Queen Chen Jinfeng to the 'Changkeng Cave.' Disguised as Chen Jinfeng, the White Snake Spirit occupied the Changchun Palace, indulging in illicit relations with the Min King daily. The thirty-six palace maids were banished to the cold palace and all became food for the White Snake Spirit's belly. The White Snake Spirit, meticulously planning revenge and intending to harm Chen Jinggu, deluded the Min King into taking Chen Jinggu's heart to cure his illness. Upon hearing that the White Snake Spirit was once again harming the human world and even lurking within the palace, Chen Jinggu devised a counter-plan. She entered the Min King's palace and subdued the White Snake Spirit, slicing it into three pieces. The head was sealed in the Dragon Pool Gorge of Bailong River, the middle section in the ancient well of the Kaiyuan Temple Iron Buddha Hall in the west gate, and the tail in the Qichuan Well of Jingloumen. This set the stage for Chen Jinggu's later fetal body being stolen and consumed by the White Snake's head.

During her time on Mount Lu

Chen Jinggu learned all the secret arts of Lushan taught by her master, Xu Zhenjun. Her master, Xu Zhenjun, informed her that this marriage was destined by fate and instructed Chen Jinggu to abide by the engagement. However, the marriage did not proceed smoothly. Before Chen Jinggu turned eighteen, Liu Qi was trapped by the Changkeng Ghost and the White Snake Spirit in the White Snake Cave. Chen Jinggu then broke into the White Snake Cave to rescue Liu Qi. Afterward, she subdued a monkey spirit, tamed a tiger spirit, and vanquished other demons and monsters. Many people came to her seeking help for urgent crises, to eliminate demons, and to protect the populace. Her marriage was fraught with difficulties and repeatedly delayed. It was not until she was eighteen that she successfully married Liu Qi, having undergone numerous trials before their union.

After Chen Jinggu beheaded the White Snake Spirit into three pieces, she rescued Queen Chen Jinfeng and arranged the ashes of the thirty-six palace maids who had been devoured by the White Snake Spirit. With disheveled hair, she blew a horn, performed the Big Dipper steps, chanted true incantations, and channeled the essence of heaven and earth. She then performed a water and fire purification ritual, drew a protective talisman, and placed it on the ashes. She blew the drum and horn again, applying the orthodox Lushan pháp, and they were restored to human form, appearing as the original palace maids. The King of Min was overjoyed and, grateful for Chen Jinggu's merit in saving the Queen, bestowed the thirty-six palace maids upon Chen Jinggu as disciples, who are now known as the 'Thirty-six Sister-Aunts.' Chen Jinggu diligently taught the thirty-six Sister-Aunts the orthodox Lushan pháp, enabling them to possess the powers to capture demons, exorcise ghosts, assist in difficult childbirths, aid the distressed, and protect infants.

I will become a god after death and exclusively save women in difficult labor

Furthermore, Chen Jinggu also eliminated monsters in a mirage. In the sea near the border of Lianjiang and Luoyuan counties, there was a giant sea monster that often exhaled mirage mist, transforming into magnificent palaces and jade towers. Every year on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, the towers were elaborately decorated, resplendent with lights. It used its tongue to form a golden bridge and its two long whiskers as railings. Exploiting the ignorance of villagers who wished to ascend to the immortal realm, it would swallow any villager who stepped onto the bridge. This monster had caused countless deaths. Upon hearing of this monster's rampage, Chen Jinggu wielded her precious sword and stabbed the monster to death.

When Chen Jinggu was twenty-four years old and pregnant, a severe drought struck Fujian. While praying for rain, she suffered a miscarriage due to the strain and was also retaliated against by the White Snake Spirit, tragically dying from the miscarriage. Before her death, she vowed: 'I will become a god after death and exclusively save women in difficult labor.' She then ascended to godhood after death.

Because Chen Jinggu, having mastered various techniques for saving people, curing illnesses, and dispelling evil spirits and ghosts during her studies at Lushan, made a grand vow upon becoming an immortal to protect pregnant women and children, worshipping Saint Mother of Shun Tian can ward off evil, prevent illnesses, and ensure the safety of pregnant women and children.