Cijin Tianhou Temple Introduction
Qijin Tianhou Temple, located in the bustling area of Qijin District in Kaohsiung City, has a history of over 300 years dedicated to the worship of Mazu, the sea goddess. Historical records indicate that in 1673, a fisherman named Xu Ahua from Fujian was blown off course by a hurricane and settled in Qijin. He later invited six families from his hometown to help welcome the Mazu deity from Meizhou to Taiwan, making it the first Mazu temple in Taiwan and the oldest temple in Kaohsiung. The temple has undergone several renovations, and the current structure of Tianhou Temple is based on the reconstruction completed in 1926. The architecture of Qijin Tianhou Temple is representative of South China-style temple architecture, featuring a layout of two halls, five doors, and two protective rooms. The roof is designed with a swallowtail ridge and is adorned with a pair of dragons embracing the immortal. The temple is richly decorated with wood carvings, stone sculptures, colorful statues, and various traditional crafts that exhibit both a rustic charm and vivid artistry. Notable painted decorations within the temple include door gods, crossbeams, murals, reliefs, and flat paintings, all created by master painter Chen Yufeng. The intricate craftsmanship represents the wisdom of the skilled artisans involved, rendering the entire temple a treasure of art worth careful appreciation. With a tradition spanning over three centuries, Tianhou Temple houses numerous important cultural relics, such as the Mazu statue brought from Tangshan in 1673, the stone sculpture of General Tiger, the ballast stone used for crossing the sea, and a stone incense burner. Additionally, there is a bronze bell from 1886 and two stone tablets recording the historical context of that era, one from official sources and the other from the public. Tianhou Temple serves not only as a spiritual gathering center for the local community in Kaohsiung but also as a testament to the history of the ancestors who crossed the sea to cultivate the land over three hundred years ago. Amid the swirling incense, what remains unchanged is Mazu's guardianship over the people and the preservation and transmission of traditional folk arts, deserving our sincere appreciation and eternal legacy.
