Beidou Tian'an Temple Introduction
Beidou Dian'an Temple, along with Zhanghua Nanyao Temple and Lugang Tianhou Temple, is known as one of the three major Mazu temples in Changhua County. The temple was originally the Dongluo Street Tianhou Temple (the old site was in Xizhou Township at the old Mei Village), established during the Kangxi period, making it the oldest Mazu temple in southern Changhua. In the 11th year of Jiaqing (1806), due to floods and wars, Dongluo Street was devastated, and many residents migrated to "Baodou." The Tianhou Temple was rebuilt, symbolizing "establishing residence and providing stability for the people," and the "Tianhou Temple" became known as "Dian'an Temple." During the Qing Dynasty, Beidou Street was the most prosperous street in the southern area of Zhanghua, leading to the development of a large belief circle surrounding Dian'an Temple, which encompasses today's Beidou Town as well as parts of Xizhou, Tainan, and Pitou, with influence extending into Tianzong Township and Ershui Township. The old Beidou Dian'an Temple was designated as a national-level third-class historical site in 1983. However, due to age-related deterioration and the construction of a new front hall, it was relocated to the Taiwan Folk Village, followed by an expansion project for the front hall, and was consecrated in 2003. The temple houses five Qing Dynasty soft-body Mazu statues, as well as a sacred red cypress Guanyin statue that is an important historical artifact. (Source: Hsieh Jui-lung's "Beidou Local Chronicles")
