Mazu Temple (Cifong Temple) Introduction
During the Yongli period of the Ming Dynasty, a monk dedicated to worshiping Mazu crossed the sea from Fujian to Ahou (present-day Pingtung City). Initially, he respectfully placed the Mazu statue in the government office for worship. However, it was puzzling that every midnight a flickering red light appeared. At first, the townspeople could not understand the meaning of the red light, but after some time, they realized it was a phenomenon of Mazu manifesting her divinity. Thus, they decided to build a temple to honor her. This initiated the founding of Cifeng Temple in 1737 (the 2nd year of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty) and is a long-celebrated miraculous story among the believers. Over the past two hundred years since its establishment, Cifeng Temple suffered the worst fire in the 72nd year of the Republic of China due to an electrical short circuit, which almost completely destroyed the front and rear halls. However, the devotees were relieved and amazed to find that the deities enshrined in the temple were unscathed. Following this disaster, a large-scale reconstruction project lasting fifteen years was promptly initiated, leading to the present splendor of Cifeng Temple. On the roof above the "Cifeng Temple" plaque, one can see the magnificent decorative cut-and-paste art featuring lively figures made of Zhangzhou pottery and various dragons and beasts. The coffered ceiling above the main hall is constructed with layered golden brackets that are not only dazzling but also exhibit remarkable grandeur. Additionally, there are many over a hundred years old historical artifacts in the temple, such as intricately carved stone drums and coiling dragon stone pillars in the main hall, as well as plaques and stone tablets inscribing historical events, all left from the Qing Dynasty. After reconstruction, Cifeng Temple not only showcases a beautiful temple courtyard but also employs creative thinking to host many cultural activities, allowing people to re-understand the aspects of traditional religion. Events such as the Ahou Mazu Cultural Season, the ceremonial procession of deities, and the competition of Ba Jia Jiang (traditional temple performers) are held to promote religious values and foster deeper cultural connotations.
