Tamsui Fu Yuan Temple Introduction
Located on Zhongzheng Road Old Street in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Fuyou Temple's exact construction history is uncertain, with some saying it was founded during the Yongzheng era and rebuilt in 1796 (the first year of Jiaqing). However, it can be confirmed that Fuyou Temple has a history of over 200 years, classified as a third-class heritage site and is one of the oldest temples among the four major temples in Tamsui. The temple primarily worships Mazu, also known as Mazu Temple. Since it was not recognized by the emperor, it retains its original name and is not called Tianhou Temple, serving as the center of Tamsui's historic development. One of the couplets in front of the temple reads, "The sea of bitterness has no bounds; who will ascend to Meizhou's shore?" This reflects the hardships faced by the ancestors during their maritime journeys, highlighting Mazu's crucial role in protecting the people. Fuyou Temple is rich in history and numerous legendary stories. For instance, the plaque reading "Yitian Zhaoyou" above the main hall is said to be awarded by the Guangxu Emperor during the Sino-French War, where Mazu supposedly manifested divine power to assist in battle. It still hangs in the main hall today as one of the temple's treasures. The "Wanggaolou Stele" embedded in the front hall records the construction of the Wanggaolou Lighthouse that guided ships at the Tamsui River estuary. Surrounding the temple's walls, the relief sculptures were mostly funded by local businesses for reconstruction as a gesture of worship, becoming a blend of ancient and modern art installations that embellish the old street today. If you look closely at the stone lions in front of the temple, you will notice that their heads are unusually shiny. This may be because the stone lions were originally used as anchor stones to help stabilize ships while guarding immigrants crossing the sea, leading the public to touch the lion's head, as it is said to bring safety.
