Heart of the Sea (Story)

Seventh son of a seventh son, they wished me to be.
Yet fate had other plans for me.
A filial daughter I would be.
As well as the heart of the sea.

— Supposed quotation from the Sea Heart.

Summary

Once upon a time, a man surnamed Lim and his wife went to pray to Guanyin for a seventh son. They were told that they couldn't, but the next child would be as valuable as a seventh by seventh son anyway.
When the daughter was born a year later, she was very quiet, not crying or speaking until she was four years old. From a young age, she was drawn to the sea and sorcery at the local temples.
Her superhuman talents became clear when she managed to save her brothers from a storm by spirit-walking to sea. She continued to hone her martial arts after that, and swore never to bow to a man.
This is where the stories differ. Some say she died of regret for never having saved her father. Others say she walked straight to heaven.
Still more debate is on what happened to her body after death or ascension. Whether she had left her source of magic on Earth somewhere, or would reappear again in another form.

Historical Basis

There was a powerful magician who lived during the Song Dynasty, the seventh child of a fishing family. She became canonized as a god in 987.

Spread

The tale of the Sea Heart followed Song emigrants and merchants who travelled to the New World. When they recited the myth, it became etched in general knowledge of other cultures.

Variations & Mutation

In the western hemisphere and New World regions, the legend was interpreted in such a way to seem almost sacrilegious in nature. They believe that the Sea Heart will return in a living host just before the end of mythical times and reveal her prophecies to the rest of the world.
With regards to the Pits, the people there believe when the magician died, her heart remained as a jeweled artifact after her burial. They currently believe it's a literal item to be dug up.
Chinese believers are quick to point out that the Sea Heart never died in the first place in order to ascend to godhood. So how could her relic be found unless she decided to turn up again in the waking world? Or return in a living body for that matter.

Cultural Reception

Fishermen, sailors, and people living by the sea will offer tribute to the Sea Heart so that she would grant them boons of safe travels.

In Art

Chinese and Tangguo sailors will have an effigy of the Sea Heart in a meditating pose in order to gain her unsinkable ability for the rest of the ship.

Date of First Recording

12th century AD

Date of Setting

960 - 987 AD