Mazu Temple (Cifeng Temple) Introduction
During the Ming Dynasty’s Yongli period, a monk who dedicated himself to the worship of Mazu crossed the sea from Fujian and arrived in Ahou (now Pingtung City). Initially, he placed the statue of Mazu in a government office for veneration. However, it was puzzling that every midnight, a flickering red light would appear. At first, people could not understand the significance of this red light, but after some time, they realized it was a manifestation of Mazu’s divine presence. As a result, they held a meeting to propose the construction of a temple to honor her. This marked the beginnings of the Cifong Temple, which began construction in 1737 (the second year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty), and is a long-celebrated miraculous story among its devotees. Over its two hundred years of existence, Cifong Temple experienced a serious fire in 1983, which was caused by electrical short circuits and nearly destroyed the front and rear halls. However, what reassured the believers was that the deities enshrined within the temple remained completely unharmed. Following this disaster, a massive reconstruction project took place, lasting fifteen years, which led to the current appearance of Cifong Temple. At the top of the roof hanging the plaque “Cifong Temple”, one can see the exquisite decoration of cut-and-paste art featuring vivid figures of Quanzhou pottery and various dragons and beasts; above the main hall, the coffered ceiling consists of layers of golden-painted brackets, which not only gleam brilliantly but also exude an extraordinary grandeur. The temple also houses numerous historical artifacts over a hundred years old, such as intricately carved stone drums and coiled dragon stone pillars in the main hall, as well as plaques and stone tablets recording historical events from the Qing Dynasty. After its reconstruction, Cifong Temple not only showcases a splendid temple courtyard but also employs creative thinking to host various cultural events. These allow people to rediscover the nature of traditional religion, such as the Ahou Mazu Cultural Festival, the processions of the Mazu deity, and the competition of the Eight Generals. These activities not only promote the values of religion but also cultivate deeper cultural significance.
