Jinban Jingtian Temple Introduction
The culturally rich temple, Jinbanjing Tianhou Temple, has a history of over a hundred years. It is said to have been built during the Qing Dynasty in the Jiaqing period by the notorious pirate Cai Qian, seeking the blessings of the deities. During the Tongzhi period, the local residents repaired the temple, which underwent four renovations in 1919, 1949, 1979, and 1984. It is also known as the "Tiebans Tianhou Temple." The ancient and elegant temple architecture retains the sculpted beams and painted rafters of the Eastern Fujian style, with the interior made of Fuzhou fir and employing a dougong structure. The components such as columns, beams, braces, and the roof beam are clearly visible. The ceiling adopts a projection eave construction style, and the main entrance, originally a wooden wall facade, was later changed to brick to protect the wooden structure from long-term weathering damage. The temple houses deities including Ma Zu, General Chen, Emperor Hua Guang, Lady Lin Shui, and the Earth God, with intricately carved statues and altars. The most renowned aspect of this Tianhou Temple is its main deity, the Mazu statue, which retains a refined and graceful presence, distinctly known as the "Young Maiden Mazu" statue. The two side altars also exhibit the rare "temple within a temple" format, exuding a simple and elegant ambiance. Although not large, it boasts an unbeatable view of the sea, making the scenery exceptionally beautiful. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the square in front of Tiebans Tianhou Temple serves as a gathering place for villagers. Every year, there is a warm village-wide "tower burning" reunion activity. The tower burning festival has been passed down for over a hundred years in the Eastern Fujian region, and currently, only exists in Ren'ai Village of Matsu, Taiwan. The towers range from 1 to 3 meters in height and are mostly built with broken tiles. A small opening is left at the top for fuel placement, allowing waste materials to be burned during the Mid-Autumn festival as a gesture of cherishing blessings, showing respect, and symbolizing the removal of old misfortunes.
