Fort San Domingo Introduction
Fuyou Temple, located on Zhongzheng Road Old Street in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, has an indeterminate construction history. It is said to have been established during the Yongzheng era and rebuilt in 1796 (the first year of Jiaqing). However, it is certain that Fuyou Temple has over 200 years of history, classified as a historic site of the third level, and is one of the oldest temples among the four major temples in Tamsui. The temple primarily worships Mazu, also known as Mazu Palace. As it has not received any imperial titles, it retains its original name instead of being called Tianhou Palace, and it was the center of Tamsui's development in the past. One line of the couplet in front of the temple reads, "In the boundless sea of suffering, who will ascend the shore of Meizhou?" This reflects the hardships faced by ancestors when they crossed the sea to settle. Mazu plays an important role in protecting the people and calming the sea. Fuyou Temple is a historically significant temple with many legendary stories. For example, the plaque "Yitian Zhaoyou" above the main hall is said to have been bestowed by Emperor Guangxu after Mazu used divine powers to assist in the war during the Sino-French War. This plaque is still hanging in the main hall and is considered one of the treasures of the temple. The "Wanggaolou Stele," embedded in the front hall's wall, records the construction of the Wanggaolou lighthouse that guides ships at the mouth of the Tamsui River. The reliefs surrounding the temple walls were largely sponsored by local businesses for the reconstruction as offerings to the gods, creating a unique blend of traditional and modern art that adorns the Old Street today. If you closely observe the stone lions in front of the temple, you will notice their heads are particularly shiny; this may be because they were originally used as ballast stones to help steady boats when guarding immigrants crossing the sea. Therefore, people like to touch the lion's head, as it is said to provide safety and peace.
