Beidou Dian'an Temple Introduction
Beidou Dian'an Temple, along with Zhanghua Nanyao Temple and Lukang Tianhou Temple, is recognized as one of the three major Mazu temples in Changhua County. The temple's predecessor was the Dongluo Street Tianhou Temple (originally located in Jiumei Village, Xizhou Township), which was established during the Kangxi period, making it the oldest Mazu temple in southern Changhua. However, in the 11th year of the Jiaqing era (1806), due to floods and wars, Dongluo Street was devastated, leading to a mass migration of residents to "Baodou" and the reconstruction of the Tianhou Temple, symbolizing the intention to "establish a residence and ensure the peace of the people." The temple became known as "Dian'an Temple." During the Qing Dynasty, Beidou Street was the most prosperous area in southern Changhua, leading to the development of a significant belief system surrounding Dian'an Temple, which encompassed present-day Beidou Township as well as parts of Xizhou, Tianwei, and Pitou, extending its influence to Tianzhong Township and Ershui Township. The old Beidou Dian'an Temple was designated as a national historical site of third class in 1983; however, due to years of disrepair and the construction of a new front hall, it was relocated to the Taiwan Folk Village, where expansion of the front hall occurred, and it was consecrated in 2003. The temple houses five important historical artifacts including Qing Dynasty soft-bodied Mazu statues and a millennium-old red cypress Guanyin statue. (Source: Hsieh Ruilong, "Beidou Local Chronicles")
