Ciyun Temple Introduction
Ciyun Temple, located in Houlong and with a history of over 220 years, is the only Taoist temple in Miaoli County that maintains the most complete historical documents. It is also one of the oldest and most organized Mazu temples in Taiwan that is officially registered by the government. As the oldest temple in Houlong with a history of over 200 years, Ciyun Temple boasts a myriad of ancient artifacts, making it the most prominent among many temples in the Houlong area, including an ancient table from the Qianlong period and a plaque bearing the imperial seal of Emperor Guangxu, inscribed with "Yutian Tonggong." Ciyun Temple, oriented north-south, consists of a main hall and two side rooms. The main hall enshrines Mazu, with the Earth God and the Goddess of Childbirth in the side rooms, and it is renowned for its bustling incense offerings. The temple hosts a fascinating folk event called "Shooting the Castle" during the Lantern Festival every year. In this event, a mini castle is hung at the top of a ten-meter tall bamboo pole, and participants, known as shooters, ignite firecrackers to throw them into the castle's entrance, attempting to trigger the pre-set explosives inside to win a prize from the organizers.
