As early as the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the deeds of Ma Gu were recorded in Taoist classics. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there were records such as Ge Hong's Biography of Immortals, Bao Puzi and Notes of Seven Clouds, and in the Qing Dynasty, there were records such as Nancheng County Records and Magu Shan Zhi. Later, Taoism built altars and temples for it, which was greatly respected. Magu Mountain, formerly known as Danxia Mountain, was named after Deng Ziyang, a Taoist priest of this mountain, who played Magu Temple during the Kaiyuan period of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (735-746). According to "Seven Stories on the Cloud", "Thirty-six caves, seventy-two blessed places are among famous mountains, and Magu Mountain is the 28th cave, the tenth blessed place", which has both caves and blessed places, which is really rare in China. The establishment of Magu Temple created a precedent of Taoist exclusive respect for Magu. In April of the sixth year of Emperor Taizong (77 1), Yan Zhenqing, a great calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty and a secretariat of Fuzhou, went to Magu Mountain Xiantan again and wrote the fairy story of Ma Guxian's meeting with the fairy king at his home in Cai Jing, Magu Mountain, as well as the regular script tablet "Magu Mountain Xiantan in Nancheng County, Fuzhou in Tang Dynasty" written by Deng Ziyang, a Taoist priest in Magu Mountain. Since the Tang Dynasty, the belief in Magu in Taoism and related praying and fasting activities have lasted for thousands of years in Magu Mountain, and the belief and customs of Magu in Han nationality have also been widely circulated, and Magu Mountain and its legends are even more famous in the world.
According to legend, Ma Gu's skill is amazing. After three vicissitudes of life, she can throw herself into Dan and save the suffering of the people. His Three Mulberry Fields in the East China Sea and Dust in the Sea became the source of the famous allusions of Mulberry Fields in the Sea and Dust in the East China Sea.
Because Magu is a fairy who witnessed the "three mulberry fields in the East China Sea", Magu is a symbol of longevity in later generations. There was a painter in the Ming Dynasty who made a picture of Magu's birthday as a birthday present. The story of "Ma Gu offered her birthday" is widely circulated among the Han people. These beautiful and magical myths and legends, as well as the traditional experience of worshipping Magu by the general public, have formed a well-known and widely circulated Magu culture. In 2006, the legend of Magu Fairy "Things Changed" was included in the first batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage list in Jiangxi Province.
The main contents of Magu culture in Cheng Nan, Jiangxi Province include Han folk sacrifices, prayers, lottery questions, myths and legends, and living customs. Legend has it that Ma Gu and her sister-in-law went to the mountains and dug up baby-like poria cocos under the big pine tree. Gu drank all the juice, and after eating it, it soared. Another said that Ma Gu went into the mountains to collect her salary, while Gu Yan sat in the forest, and all the birds came with her salary. As her brother knew, Gugu knew that his miraculous power had been vented, so he abandoned Jiaxian. The legendary story about "Ma Gu offered her birthday" not only spread widely, but also had a great influence. According to legend, the third day of the third lunar month is the birthday of the fairy queen. Ma Gu brewed fairy wine from Ganoderma lucidum on the Pearl River and took it to the flat peach party and gave it to the fairy queen. In many parts of our country, it is customary for women to send a birthday picture to Magu on their birthdays and post a new year picture of Magu during the Spring Festival. The portrait of Ma Gu often appears in Han folk paintings and handicrafts. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been temples and altars in Magu Mountain in all previous dynasties, which are recorded in ancient books and records. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it became a custom for the county officials of Jianchang Prefecture (now Cheng Nan, Jiangxi Province) to go up the mountain to worship Ma Gu on July 7th every year. Therefore, in the legendary "Qixi Banquet" of Ma Gu and Wang, local officials and their families had to carry offerings to the mountain under the auspices of the county magistrate. In case of flood, drought, mutiny and civil strife, we should also bathe and fast, hold a prayer ceremony on the altar, pray for spiritual induction, give good years diligently, and bless one party's peace. At that time, many ordinary people in Jianchang County and its neighboring areas went to Magu Shrine to worship every day, with the purpose of praying for blessings, longevity, children and grandchildren, and avoiding disasters. Every festival is packed with people. "In the morning, thousands of people worship, and at night, thousands of lights are on."
After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), the worship of Han people continued. During the Cultural Revolution, was once imprisoned, and many contents and forms were on the verge of being lost. After the reform and opening up, it gradually recovered, and the forms of sacrificial activities were rich and colorful, which were continued and protected.
The unique Magu culture occupies an important position in the whole ancient culture series and is a microcosm of the development history of folk culture. Its rich content, basic characteristics and inheritance history are rare in China ancient culture. It is of great value to study the folk customs, folk customs and beliefs of past dynasties, enrich the cultural treasure house of the Chinese nation, enrich people's cultural life, promote national fitness and longevity, and build a harmonious socialist society.