Jinshan Cihou Temple Introduction
Cihou Temple, located on Xia Street in Jinshan, has a history of two hundred years and is the largest temple in Jinshan. It primarily worships the Golden Face Mazu and serves as the local center of faith, referred to as the "Grand Temple" by the local Jinshan people. The artistic expressions in aspects such as the foundation, roof frame, roof, and walls are intricately carved and worthy of appreciation. The main hall features octagonal dragon columns, which are exquisite craftsmanship from the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty and are quite rare. The Mazu of Cihou Temple is divided into the Elder Mazu and the Second Mazu. The Second Mazu once drifted at sea and was discovered at Yehliu seaside by chance. Since the statue is only eight inches tall, the worshippers pooled funds to carve a larger Mazu statue to match the Elder Mazu’s size, thus giving rise to the tale of "Mother among Mothers." Later, on the sixteenth day of the fourth lunar month, the Second Mazu makes a pilgrimage from Jinshan to Yehliu to "visit her maiden home," becoming a unique celebration activity among Jinshan, Shimen, and Wanli.
