Majia Village Introduction
The ancestors of Ma-Jia-Zhuang and President Ma Ying-jeou both come from Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province. In 1993, Mr. Ma Ying-jeou met Professor Ma Chuan-zhen from the National Police University, who is the 21st generation relative of the Ma family in Fufeng Hall. Through their conversation, they discovered that their ancestors came from the same region, and Professor Ma is one generation older than President Ma. It was later found that the ancestors of Ma-Jia-Zhuang settled in Taiwan after several migrations from Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province to Guangdong, while President Ma's ancestors moved from Fufeng County to Hunan before settling in Taiwan. Thus, Ma-Jia-Zhuang and President Ma share the same roots. After learning about the ties to Ma-Jia-Zhuang, President Ma has returned to the "Fufeng Hall" in Fengshu Village, Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County every year on the second day of the lunar new year since 1994 to pay respects to his ancestors. Initially, the ancestral worship activities were not publicly announced, and during his tenure as the mayor of Taipei, he arranged gatherings with local townspeople and relatives when returning to worship. Although the activities were paused for five years, they resumed in 1998 and have continued every year since, with President Ma returning to "Fufeng Hall" to honor his ancestors and actively distributing red envelopes to the townspeople, all while enjoying the festive atmosphere, especially greeting the elderly with congratulations and casual conversations. About Ma-Jia-Zhuang Ma-Jia-Zhuang is located in Fengshu Village, Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, and is President Ma's second hometown. The village features traditional quadrangle courtyards and preserves the earthen houses of the Hsu family and traditional charcoal kilns, exuding a rich rustic charm. The Ma ancestors' shrine is named "Fufeng Hall," which has an interesting couplet: "The Ma ancestor shrine has prominence; wise leadership for the treasure island children; the nine ancestors come to assist him; loyal and filial good men doing their work; ultimately, it is fate and good timing; leading the clan to peace." When the initial characters of each line are combined, they spell out "Ma Ying-jeou is president," demonstrating President Ma's popularity in the village. Rustic Charm of Ma-Jia-Zhuang After Mr. Ma was elected as the 12th democratically elected president on March 22, 2008, Ma-Jia-Zhuang quickly became a popular tourist destination in Tongxiao Township, Miaoli. The entire village can be explored in just a few minutes, connected to County Road 121 and County Road 36, leading to the Tongluo Science Park and other scenic spots in Miaoli. Tongxiao Cihui Temple The first stop for President Ma when visiting his ancestral hometown of Tongxiao Township in Miaoli is always the Tongxiao Cihui Temple, where he prays for Mazu's blessings for the people's peace before heading to the Ma ancestors' shrine, Fufeng Hall. Cihui Temple, located on Tongxiao Street in Tongxiao Township, serves as the faith center for the people of Tongxiao. It was established in the 13th year of the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1837) and is dedicated to the Heavenly Mother, founded by Zheng Ma-guan from the Thirteen Villages of Tongxiao. The entire reconstruction and restoration period of Tongxiao Cihui Temple involved the participation of Hakka people, lending it a rich Hakka cultural flair. Tourism in Ma-Jia-Zhuang Visitors to President Ma's hometown, Ma-Jia-Zhuang, can explore the Ma family shrine, Fufeng Hall, along Ying-Jiu Avenue, while enjoying the rustic village life. Nearby attractions in Miaoli include Feiniu Ranch, Tongxiao Ocean Resort, Qiuzhiyuan, Huzhoushan Park, and other notable locations such as Dahu Winery, Sanyi Wood Sculpture Town, Taian Hot Springs, Mingde Reservoir, and trails walked by ancestors, like the Charcoal Trail, Firewood Trail, and Mingfeng Trail, which are all must-visit destinations. If the season permits, attendees can participate in the Miaoli Tung Blossom Festival, where the beautiful tung flowers, known as the "May Snow," symbolize Hakka culture and represent romantic aspirations between couples, allowing tourists in Ma-Jia-Zhuang to appreciate the beauty of the mountain town while experiencing Miaoli's good mountains, good waters, and good people's hospitality. Authentic Taiwanese Color Everywhere The residents of Ma-Jia-Zhuang predominantly speak Hokkien, and most of their religious beliefs revolve around worshiping Mazu, showcasing the authentic flavors of Taiwan throughout the village. In the future, with the development of tourism and recreational planning, the county government intends to preserve the village's original rustic charm. The villagers of Ma-Jia-Zhuang are very friendly, and recently, as many visitors from outside have faced difficulties finding their way to the village, local residents made signs for "Ying-Jiu Avenue" to help tourists avoid the hassle of asking for directions. However, the Miaoli County Government has already installed directional signs at the Tongxiao Interchange on National Highway 2, ensuring that visitors from other counties can easily visit Ma-Jia-Zhuang in the future.
