Wuqixiang Chaoyuan Temple Introduction
The early residents of Wuchi primarily made their living by “fishing.” The plaque reading "Yongkang Sihai" on the main hall of Chaoyuan Temple is a perfect reflection of this livelihood. Located on Wuchi Old Street, Chaoyuan Temple is affectionately referred to by the local community as "Mazu Temple." The main deity worshipped inside the temple is Tian Shang Sheng Mu, commonly known as Mazu, whose faith holds great significance in Wuchi. This is because the early residents of Wuchi began their lives through fishing, relying on the sea for both trade with China and fishing as well as coastal aquaculture operations, turning to the sea goddess Mazu for blessings of calm winds and smooth sailing. Chaoyuan Temple currently houses a statue known as "Kai Ji Ma," which is a split spirit from the Tianhou Temple in Meizhou, Fujian, China. According to legend, it was brought to Wuchi by Lin Yinde, the salt officer, who rented the statue from Meizhou. Later, during the Xianfeng era, a Mazu temple was constructed on the west coast of Wuchi to honor the statue, which is one of the six "Kai Ji Mazu" representations from the Ascension Cave of the Meizhou ancestral temple. Therefore, worshippers affectionately refer to this statue as "Kai Ji Ma."
