Jinshan Cihou Temple Introduction
Cihou Temple, located on Xiajie Street in Jinsan, has a history of two hundred years and is the largest temple in Jinsan. It mainly worships the Golden-Faced Mazu and serves as a center of local faith, often referred to as the "Great Temple" by the locals. The artistic expressions in various aspects such as the foundation, roof structure, and body of the building are intricately crafted and worthy of careful appreciation. The octagonal main hall with its dragon columns is an exquisite piece of craftsmanship from the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty and is quite rare. The Mazu of Cihou Temple is divided into the Big Mazu and the Second Mazu. The Second Mazu once drifted at sea and was discovered at the Yehliu coastline. Since the statue was only eight inches tall, the devotees raised funds to carve a larger statue of Mazu to hold the eight-inch statue inside, which is the origin of the term "Mazu among Mazu." Later, every year on the sixteenth day of the fourth lunar month, the Second Mazu makes a pilgrimage from Jinsan to Yehliu to visit her "family home," becoming a unique celebration activity between Jinsan, Shimen, and Wanli.
