Horse's Head. The legend itself tells a different tale.
In addition to this goddess, the spouse of Schen Nung,
the "Divine Husbandman," is also worshiped as the
goddess of silkworm culture. The Goddess with the
Horse's Head is more of a totemic representation of the
silkworm as such; while the wife of Schen Nung is
regarded as the protecting goddess of silk culture, and
is supposed to have been the first to teach women its
details. The spouse of the Yellow Lord is mentioned in
the same connection. The popular belief distinguishes
three goddesses who protect the silkworm culture in
turn. The second is the best of the three, and when it
is her year the silk turns out well.

XXII

THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN

The Queen of Heaven, who is also known as the Holy Mother, was in
mortal life a maiden of Fukien, named Lin. She was pure, reverential
and pious in her ways and died at the age of seventeen. She shows her
power on the seas and for this reason the seamen worship her. When
they are unexpectedly attacked by wind and waves, they call on her and
she is always ready to hear their pleas.

There are many seamen in Fukien, and every year people are lost at
sea. And because of this, most likely, the Queen of Heaven took pity
on the distress of her people during her lifetime on earth. And since
her thoughts are uninterruptedly turned toward aiding the drowning in
their distress, she now appears frequently on the seas.

In every ship that sails a picture of the Queen of Heaven hangs in the
cabin, and three paper talismans are also kept on shipboard. On the
first she is painted with crown and scepter, on the second as a maiden
in ordinary dress, and on the third she is pictured with flowing hair,
barefoot, standing with a sword in her hand. When the ship is in
danger the first talisman is burnt, and help comes. But if this is of
no avail, then the second and finally the third picture is burned. And
if no help comes then there is nothing more to be done.

When seamen lose their course among wind and waves and darkling
clouds, they pray devoutly to the Queen of Heaven. Then a red lantern
appears on the face of the waters. And if they follow the lantern they
will win safe out of all danger. The Queen of Heaven may often be seen
standing in the skies, dividing the wind with her sword. When she does
this the wind departs for the North and South, and the waves grow
smooth.

A