Mazu Temple (Cifong Temple) Introduction
During the Yongli era of the Ming Dynasty, a monk who worshiped Mazu crossed the sea from Fujian to A-Kou (present-day Pingtung City). Initially, he placed the Mazu statue in the official hall for reverent worship. However, it was strange that every midnight, a flickering red light would appear. At first, the townspeople could not understand the significance of the red light, but after some time, they realized it was a manifestation of Mazu's presence. Therefore, they convened to build a temple to honor her. This is the origin of the construction of Cifeng Temple, which began in 1737 (2nd year of Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty), and it is a long-lasting miraculous story among the believers. Over the past two hundred years since its establishment, Cifeng Temple experienced the most severe fire in 1983, caused by an electric short circuit, which nearly destroyed the front and back halls. However, to the relief and amazement of the devotees, the deities enshrined in the temple remained untouched. Following this devastating fire, a large-scale reconstruction project that lasted fifteen years was launched, resulting in the current appearance of Cifeng Temple. On the roof above the plaque of "Cifeng Temple," one can instantly see the luxurious and decorative art of paper-cutting, featuring vivid figures made of glazed pottery from the Tran dynasty, as well as various dragons and beasts. The coffered ceiling above the main hall is constructed from tiers of golden-painted bracket sets, not only radiant but also magnificent. The temple also houses numerous historical relics over a hundred years old, such as intricately carved stone drums and dragon-patterned stone pillars in the main hall, along with the hanging plaques and historical stone tablets from the Qing Dynasty. After the reconstruction, Cifeng Temple not only showcases a splendid architectural appearance but also utilizes creative thinking to hold various cultural events, allowing people to re-recognize the appearance of traditional religion. Events such as the A-Kou Mazu Cultural Festival, the Divine Procession, and Baijiajiang General Competition promote the value of religion and also crystallize deeper cultural connotations.
