Tuku Shuntian Temple Introduction
Tu Ku Matsu Shrine: The Tu Ku Shun Tian Temple is dedicated to Matsu, commonly referred to as Tu Ku Matsu. The current structure and appearance were established during the Showa period after reconstruction. The works of master artisans from the Zhang faction and the Quanzhou Xi Di faction, including Hu Xian and Wang Jinmu, are showcased here. Introduction: The Tu Ku Shun Tian Temple originally began as a "土廟" (earth temple) and underwent renovations. The construction of the front hall started in the 14th year of the Daoguang reign (1834), followed by the rear hall six years later (1840). In the second year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), local gentry renovated the front hall and built the Jing Sheng Pavilion and the left wing. In the second year of the Guangxu reign (1876), funds were raised to build the right wing. After over a hundred years, the temple showed signs of deterioration. Local gentry such as Yan Dingquan, Lin Yongzhen, Chen Rongshi, Lin Zhaoding, Chen Taixuan, Lin Jin, and Chen Qingquan, along with Japanese official Shinozaki Kiyokichi (the town chief), raised funds during the Japanese occupation in 1934 to restore the temple to its current magnificent appearance. In 1940, the Japanese government implemented the Japanization policy in Taiwan. The board of directors for the Shun Tian Temple, led by Shinozaki Kiyokichi, sought to cooperate with the Japanese "Kōgyō Shingon Sect Taiwan Open Teaching Plan" and applied to join as the 34th related temple, officially establishing the "Tu Ku Branch of Tu Ku Village, Huwei Township, Tainan Prefecture" to become a branch of the Kōyasan Daishi Church. They invited the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva from Yoshikōji in Gunma Prefecture to be enshrined in the main hall, while the other deities were temporarily moved to the rear hall for worship. This spared the Shun Tian Temple from being destroyed by the Japanese government, and it wasn't until 1945 that the Matsu returned to the main hall for worship, while Guanyin Bodhisattva was moved back to the rear hall. Architectural Features: The Tu Ku Shun Tian Temple is located in the urban area of Tu Ku and is a typical southern Chinese temple architecture, featuring a swallowtail ridge and spectacular cut tile decorations of "Dragon and Phoenix Presenting Three Stars." The main hall has three bays, with a three-door system plus side dragon and tiger doors, presenting five doors from the front, a honor typically enjoyed by imperial deities. The construction materials used throughout the temple, including the ridge, beams, arches, columns, and eaves, are made of huai (black locust) wood, showcasing exceptional architectural skills and carving techniques characteristic of the Qing Dynasty period. The interior layout consists of three bays, a courtyard, the main hall, the rear hall (Guanyin Bodhisattva hall), the San Guan Da Di hall, and the Wen Chang Di Jun hall, interconnected by corridors and the Eight Trigrams Gate. Image Source: Hsueh Ying-Chi/Photo. (Authorized photos should not be reproduced.)
Tuku Shun Tian Temple
