Yongzheng Temple Introduction
Yongzheng Temple is located in Tianliao Village, Toufen City, just over a kilometer from Zhunan Town. The grand temple maintains a simple charm, with ancient banyan trees providing shade in a serene environment. In the third year of the Xianfeng era (1853), the Qing Dynasty scholar Xu Yingjian, also known as Fengnan, initiated the construction of Yongzheng Temple in Tianliao. After its completion, the divine presence flourished, attracting worshippers from Toufen, Sanwan, Nanzhuang, Emei, Beipu, Zaoqiao, Zhunan, as well as residents from Hsinchu and Miaoli, inspiring a community focused on goodness. The temple primarily enshrines the Queen of Heaven (Mazu), with a solemn statue of Mazu in the main hall. To the right, there is a statue of Wang Guangze, which is tall and majestic; this deity is a guardian spirit of immigrants from Quanzhou, indicating that the temple’s followers are from both Fujian and Cantonese backgrounds. To the left is the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and next to the Mazu statue is the enshrined figure of Master Fa Miao, making it a rare occurrence among Mazu temples in Taiwan to have this pairing. The side halls house the enshrined deities of Wenchang Dijun, Fude Zhengshen, and Changsheng Lu. The interior of the temple is adorned with dazzling gold and features finely crafted sculptures. Important annual festivals are held three times a year: February 23 (Lunar calendar) - Birthday of the Queen of Heaven; April 8 (Lunar calendar) - Procession of the Queen; July 15 (Lunar calendar) - Zhongyuan Festival.
