April 28 News.MalaysiaA Taoist temple has launched what is claimed to be the world's first "AIMatsu, name of a sea goddess still widely worshipped on the SE China coast and in SE Asia", the idol is able to interact with the devotees and answer their queries.
According to 1AI, the "AI Mazu" is located at the Tin Hau Palace in the southern Malaysian state of Johor, and dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, worshippers are invited to pray to the AI Mazu for blessings, to let her read the divination stickers they drew at the temple, and to answer their questions.
The AI Mazu was reportedly developed by Malaysian tech company Aimazin, which also offers AI cloning services. In the demonstration video, the company's founder, Shin Gong, asks the AI Mazu if he can get a windfall, to which the AI Mazu replies in a gentle voice, advising him that he will have more luck if he stays at home. A web celebrity complains to AI Mazu that she can't sleep at night, to which AI Mazu affectionately refers to her as "my child" and advises her to drink some hot water before going to bed.
AI Mazu was released just before Mazu's 1,065th birthday, which falls on April 20 this year. Originally named Lin Mo, A-Ma Zu was born in 960 A.D. as a mortal on Meizhou Island in Putian City, Fujian Province, China. It is said that she died while rescuing a ship in distress at sea, and then ascended to heaven to become an all-powerful guardian deity who blesses seafarers. The belief in A-Ma is widespread among Chinese communities around the world, especially in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
In order for more people to feel the blessings of A-Ma, the statue of A-Ma on Meizhou Island sometimes travels to other cities and even overseas by train and plane. A-Mazu also has its own identity card and number to facilitate its "travel". In some police stations in Fujian, mediation rooms have even been set up in Mazu's name to settle disputes, as believers are afraid to lie in front of her.
It is worth mentioning that Chinese actress Liu Tao, who played A-Ma in the 2012 TV series "Mazu," is also regarded by some as the embodiment of A-Ma, and some people even enshrine her photo at home. During the birth anniversary of Mazu this year, Liu Tao was honored by Putian City as an ambassador for the global promotion of Mazu culture.