Mazu Village

Mazu Village Introduction

The ancestors of Mazu Village and President Ma Ying-jeou both hail 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 descendant of the Ma family Fufeng Hall. Through their conversations, they discovered that their ancestors came from the same region, with Professor Ma being a generation older than President Ma. It was later found that the ancestors of Mazu Village migrated several times from Fufeng County in Shaanxi Province to Guangdong before settling in Taiwan, while President Ma’s ancestors moved from Fufeng County to Hunan before settling in Taiwan. This shows that Mazu Village and President Ma are of the same root; upon learning of the connection to Mazu Village, President Ma has returned to Fufeng Hall in Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County every year on the second day of the Lunar New Year since 1994 to pay respects to his ancestors. Initially, these ancestral rites were not publicly announced and were only arranged during President Ma's tenure as mayor of Taipei, where he held gatherings with local villagers and family members when returning home. Although there was a five-year hiatus, starting from 1998 to the present, he returns to Fufeng Hall every Lunar New Year's Day, actively giving red envelopes to the villagers to share in the festive atmosphere, especially engaging with elderly residents by offering greetings and small talk. About Mazu Village Mazu Village, located in Fengshu Li, Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, is President Ma's second hometown. The village is primarily based on traditional courtyard-style homes and preserves the traditional earthen buildings of the Hsu family and old charcoal kilns, exuding a strong sense of antiquity. The ancestral hall of the Ma family is named "Fufeng Hall," and it features an interesting couplet: "The Ma Ancestor Hall shows prominently, with wise leadership protecting our beloved island; Nine ancestors come to aid, loyal and filial good men will serve. Ultimately, it is Heaven's will at the right moment, leading the clan to peace." When combining the initial characters of each line, it spells out "Ma Ying-jeou is the President," reflecting the popularity of Ma Ying-jeou in the village. Old-fashioned Charm of Mazu Village Mazu Village in Fengshu Li, Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County became a popular tourist destination after Mr. Ma was elected as the 12th President on March 22, 2008. The entire village can be explored in just a few minutes, connected to Miaoli Route 121 and Route 36, leading to various attractions in Miaoli, including the Tongluo Science Park. Tongxiao Cihui Temple The first stop for President Ma when he visits Miaoli's Tongxiao Township for ancestral rites is always the Tongxiao Cihui Temple, where he prays for Mazu’s blessing for the wellbeing of the people before heading to the Ma family ancestral hall, Fufeng Hall. Cihui Temple, located on Tongxiao Street in Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, is a center of faith for the locals, founded in the 13th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1837 AD), and is primarily dedicated to the Heavenly Mother. The temple was established by Zheng Mamentu, the chief of Tongxiao's Thirteen Villages, and the restoration and rebuilding involved many Hakka people, thus it is infused with rich Hakka culture. Traveling in Mazu Village Visitors to President Ma's hometown, Mazu Village, can explore Fufeng Hall and appreciate the village's rustic charm along Yingjiu Avenue. Nearby attractions include Feiniu Ranch, Tongxiao Ocean Resort, Qiumao Garden, Hutar Mountain Park, as well as renowned sites like Dahu Winery, Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum, Tai'an Hot Spring, Mingde Reservoir, and historic trails like the Tiaochai Ancient Path, Tiaochan Ancient Path, and Mingfeng Ancient Path. If the season permits, visitors can also participate in the Miaoli Tung Blossom Festival, where the beautiful tung flowers symbolize Hakka culture and represent romantic yearnings, allowing travelers to experience the beauty of the mountains and waters of Miaoli. Authentic Taiwanese Charm Residents in Mazu Village predominantly speak Hokkien, and the main religious belief is the worship of Mazu, giving the village a genuine Taiwanese atmosphere. As tourism and recreational planning continue to develop, the county government intends to maintain the original simplicity and charm. The villagers of Mazu Village are quite warm and welcoming. Recently, due to many visitors often getting lost when trying to find the village, local residents took the initiative to create road signs for "Yingjiu Avenue" to assist tourists. However, the Miaoli County Government has already set up directional signs at the Tongxiao interchange of the Zhong Er Expressway, believing that future visitors from other counties will be able to explore Mazu Village more easily.