The Cult of Mazu in Hainan, China and Among Vietnamese Hainanese Diaspora: A Comparative Study of Mazu Culture

The cult of Mazu is a common folk belief in China and Vietnam. Originating from the Song and Yuan Dynasties, particularly during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the cult of Mazu spread to Vietnam through maritime trade and migration from coastal regions of China. After centuries of integration and development, it evolved into its own cultural system of Mazu worship, becoming an important component of Vietnamese folk culture. Hainan, China, as a crucial supply station on the Maritime Silk Road, has close connections with the transmission of Mazu culture to Vietnam. This paper adopts field investigations and literature research methods to explore the Mazu worship and culture in Hainan, China, and the Qiongfu Assembly Halls in Vietnam.