Although he wore a suit and tie, sipped coffee, and ate steak, Mu Yuming was at heart a very traditional, or rather, conservative Easterner.
He was well aware that in times of trouble, worshiping any immortals was not as effective as clinging to his wife's coattails.
But for the Chinese, regardless of which deity you believe in, having a little faith wasn't about effectiveness; what mattered was the sentiment of offering incense. In times of real need, one hoped only not to be the butt of the gods' jokes.
In the Pacific Rim Region, all Chinese seafarers worshipped the Empress of Heaven.
The Empress of Heaven did not have an exclusive sect or scriptures and did not reject other religious beliefs. Therefore, it was common in coastal cities to see the Empress of Heaven worshipped alongside other gods and Buddhas. Often, this was initiated by the locals themselves, to add a touch of glory to their own community.
