Shilin Cihan Temple Introduction
Shilin Cihang Temple, also known as Shilin Mazu Temple, is dedicated to the Heavenly Queen and is located within the famous Shilin Night Market. The temple's predecessor was built in 1796 (the first year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty) on land donated by the owner He Jintang, and it was originally called Tianhou Temple. In 1859 (the ninth year of the Xianfeng era), a conflict between the Zhang and Quan factions broke out, and Zhilanjie was also affected, suffering from a fire that burned down Tianhou Temple. After the old street was severely damaged, local gentry Pan Yongqing advocated for relocating and rebuilding the street, which received the support of most residents. They chose to construct the new street at the lower Shilin area, which is today’s Shilin New Street. At the same time, the central area of the street was planned for the temple site, which is the current location of Cihang Temple. Cihang Temple is designed in a typical two-hall, two-aisle, and two-dragon-protecting layout, forming a total of five courtyards. The two halls are connected by a walkway adorned with dragon protectors, representing a classic Minnan-style temple. The roof of the first hall, Sanchuan Hall, features a hip-and-gable roof commonly referred to as the "Prince's Pavilion" style. The octagonal column with a single coiled dragon at the main entrance was constructed during the Guangxu period, while the left and right Kirin blocks are works from 1828. The beautifully painted figures of Palace Ma and the door gods Weichang Gong and Qin Shubao on the door are exquisite pieces by the important modern craftsman Chen Yufeng. Next to the main hall, there is a stone wall depicting the old streets of Shilin, allowing visitors to reminisce about the streetscapes of the past.
