Kaohsiung Hama Xing Dai Tian Gong Introduction
"Hamasen" is the old name for the southern part of the Gushan District in Kaohsiung City today. This area was originally a sea, and during the Japanese colonial period, the authorities utilized the dredged earth from the port to reclaim land. Due to the presence of two coastal railways leading to the commercial port, fish port, and fish market, it was referred to in Japanese as "Hamasen". Locally, residents called it "Ha-ma-sing" in Taiwanese. Hamasen is the starting point of Kaohsiung Port's modernization and the terminus of the railway, and it once served as the origin of Kaohsiung's political and economic center, flourishing for a time. The Daitian Temple was built in 1951, and its main deity is the Wufu Qiansui, which is worshipped along with Chi Fu Qiansui, Qingshui Zushi, and Guanyin. A splendid archway is built in front of the temple, which features a typical South Chinese temple design, with a magnificent and solemn appearance. The temple roof adopts a heavy eaves style, and the cut and paste decorations of figures and animals, as well as the flowers and birds, are intricately carved. The colorful paintings and sculptures inside the hall depict traditional folk stories such as the meeting in the Jade Pool, the Eighteen Arhats, and the Great Assembly of Immortals, with clay figures varying in shape and lifelike. The door gods and deity sculptures in the San Chuan Hall are crafted by the renowned artist Pan Lishui, and the dignified and magnificent sculptures are rare artistic treasures. The Daitian Temple serves as the belief center and gathering place for the residents of Hamasen, and the food stalls in the plaza offer a variety of flavors, attracting numerous worshippers and showcasing the local customs of Kaohsiung.
