Cijin Tianhou Temple Introduction
Qijin Tianhou Temple, located in the bustling area of Qijin District in Kaohsiung City, has a history of over three hundred years in worshiping the sea goddess Mazu. According to historical records, in 1673, a fisherman from Fujian named Xu Ahua was blown off course during a storm and settled in Qijin. He subsequently gathered six families from his hometown and invited a statue of Mazu from Meizhou to Taiwan, establishing the first Mazu temple in Taiwan, as well as the oldest temple in Kaohsiung. The temple has undergone several renovations, and the current Tianhou Temple is based on a structure rebuilt in 1926. The architecture of Qijin Tianhou Temple belongs to the Southern Fujian temple style, featuring two halls, five entrances, and two protective rooms. The temple roof is shaped like a swallowtail ridge, decorated with a double dragon embracing the celestial being. The temple is adorned with an array of wood carvings, stone carvings, colorful sculptures, and cut paper artworks, showcasing rustic charm and vivid liveliness. Notable painted artworks within the temple, such as guardian deities, transverse beams, murals, reliefs, and flat paintings, are the work of master painter Chen Yufeng. The intricate craftsmanship represents the wisdom of the artisans, making the entire temple a treasure of art worthy of careful appreciation. Among the relics cherished in the temple, which has been a site of worship for over three hundred years, are important artifacts like the statue of Mazu brought from Tangshan in 1673, stone sculptures of General Tiger, a ballast stone for crossing the sea, a stone incense burner, a bronze bell dated 1886, and two stone tablets that record the historical context of that time. Tianhou Temple serves not only as a gathering center for local faith in Kaohsiung but also represents the historical pursuit of frontier development by the ancestors who came to Taiwan over three hundred years ago. Amidst the swirling incense, Mazu's guardianship over the people and the preservation of traditional folk arts endure, deserving our heartfelt understanding and eternal legacy.
