Tianhou Temple, Luzhu District, Kaohsiung Introduction
During the Kangxi period, as the number of settlers in the Luzhu area gradually increased and their lives became more stable, the Tianhou Temple was established on the present-day Zhongshan Road in 1671. After several renovations and expansions, the number of devotees grew. However, with the changes of the times and the development of Luzhu's streets, the temple space became insufficient and could no longer be expanded. Therefore, in 1979, under the guidance of the Holy Mother, a new temple was constructed while preserving the old temple in the urban area, creating a situation where both old and new coexist. The new temple, also known as the Daitianhou Temple locally, is the largest temple in Luzhu, primarily dedicated to the Heavenly Holy Mother, the guardian deity of navigation, Mazu. This temple, in the Minnan architectural style, reaches three stories high and features a spacious temple yard, making it extraordinarily grand and magnificent. The two divine generals, Qianliyan (Thousand-mile Eye) and Shunfeng’er (Obedient Wind Ear), accompany the temple on either side. The dragon statue in the temple hall hosts an annual event called "Guolonghou" during Mazu's birthday, where participants enter through the dragon's mouth and exit through the dragon's tail, symbolizing the removal of bad luck and the preservation of peace, which is a unique blessing activity at the Luzhu Tianhou Temple.
