Tianhou Temple, Luermun Introduction
Luerhmen's Prosperous Dream: The Cultural Season Continues with Passion. Early on, Luerhmen referred to a port channel, which was the main maritime route in Taiwan and Tainan, historically known as the “Heavenly Barrier,” a strategically contested area. It was the import and export hub for “salt, sugar, fabrics, and goods” throughout Taiwan, with the Goddess Mazu blessing the safe passage. However, after numerous natural disasters, the Tainan Inner Sea turned into muddy land, leading to the loss of port functionality and the eventual decline of the settlement into a small fishing village, causing the Mazu Temple to also collapse. After the Republic of China era, Taiwan's economy recovered, leading to the reconstruction we see today. The Mazu statue enshrined in the Luerhmen Mazu Temple is carved from the precious “Xuan Zhi wood” from the mainland. The temple stands majestic and grand, showcasing the beauty of Chinese temples with its dragon pillars, door gods, dougong brackets, roof ridge cut ceramic art, Tran ceramics, temple wall carvings, coffered ceilings, corridors, and courtyards, all of which are worth exploring in detail. The Luerhmen Mazu Temple hosts a cultural season each year from the 12th month of the lunar calendar to March of the following year, offering rich and distinctive content divided into nine main sections: ritual culture, religious beliefs, ancient fishing village customs, rural nostalgia, Tainan origins, public opinion square, passing on traditions, cultural camps, and the publication of cultural materials. These events combine folk arts, cultural religious elements, and natural ecology, held annually over a four-month period. Under the planning and preparation of the Mazu Temple Management Committee, approximately 70 dynamic and static exhibition events take place each year, immersing people in the emotions of history and local culture, revitalizing their long-dormant passion, and enriching their inner selves and spirits. (The information is referenced from the Luerhmen Mazu Temple website.)
