Linshui Furen, also known as "Danai Furen", "Shunyi Furen", "Shuntian Shengmu" (Holy Mother of Shun Tian), "Sanshan Nüshen" (Goddess of the Three Mountains) and so on, is an important goddess of the Lüshan School of Taoism. She is a goddess worshipped by the people in the Min River basin of Fujian Province, with believers spreading across Taiwan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Southeast Asia. Her main deeds are recorded in Mindu Bieji (Alternative Records of Fuzhou).
According to legend, Linshui Furen had the surname Chen and the given name Jinggu, or Jinggu. There are two theories about her origin: one says she was from Gutian, Ningde; the other claims she was from Xiadu, Fuzhou. It is said that she formed a sworn sisterhood with Lin Shanniang and Li Sanniang, and they went to Lüshan together to study Taoist magic, with Xu Jingyang Zhenren as their teacher. After the three sisters attained enlightenment, they were collectively called "Sannai Furen" (the Three Ladies).
In the Lüshan School, there is a group of Taoist priests who regard Linshui Furen and the other two sworn goddesses as their patriarchs. They wear red headscarves as a symbol and are called "Sannai Pai" (the Three Ladies Sect), "Furen Pai" (the Lady Sect), or "Hongtou Fashi" (Red-headed Masters) by people in Taiwan. Another group of Taoist priests, on the other hand, reveres Fazhu Gong as their patriarch and wears black headscarves as a factional symbol, known as "Wutou Fashi" (Black-headed Masters) in Taiwan.
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Linshui Furen was capable of subduing demons and monsters, and helping those in danger and relieving their sufferings. She sacrificed her life at the age of 24 while praying for rain to combat drought and eliminating disasters for the people. Legend has it that Linshui Furen was particularly effective in protecting women and children, thus earning the title of "Goddess of Saving Childbirth, Protecting Fetus and Blessing the People".
