Tamsui Fuyou Temple Introduction
Fuyou Temple, located on Zhongzheng Road in the Tamsui District of New Taipei City, has an uncertain history of construction. It is said to have been established during the Yongzheng period and rebuilt in 1796 (the first year of the Jiaqing era). However, it is certain that Fuyou Temple has over 200 years of history, classified as a Level 3 historical monument, 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 granted imperial title, it retains its original name and is not referred to as Tianhou Temple. This temple was once the center of development in old Tamsui. One of the couplets at the temple states, "The sea of bitterness has no bounds; who will ascend to Meizhou to reach the shore?" This reflects the hardships faced by the ancestors during the period of opening up the island. Mazu played an important role in protecting the people and stabilizing maritime activities. Fuyou Temple is rich in history and is home to many legendary stories. For instance, the plaque reading "Yitian Zhaoyou" in the main hall is said to have been bestowed by Emperor Guangxu after Mazu displayed divine power during the Sino-French War, and it still hangs in the main hall as one of the treasures of the temple. Embedded in the wall of the front hall, the "Wanggaolou Stele" records the construction of the Wanggaolou lighthouse, which guided ships at the Tamsui River mouth. The bas-reliefs that surround the temple walls were mostly funded by local merchants for the god's blessing, transforming into a piece of installation art that merges antiquity and modernity, embellishing the old street today. Upon closer inspection of the stone lions in front of the temple, one may notice that their heads are particularly shiny. This may be because the stone lions were originally used as ballast stones to help stabilize boats and once protected immigrants crossing the sea, leading people to enjoy touching the lions' heads, as it is said to bring safety and peace.
