Luerhmen Tianhou Temple Introduction
Luerhmen Prosperous Dream, Culture Season Continues with Enthusiasm Originally, Luerhmen referred to a waterway, which was the main shipping route for Taiwan and the Tainan River. It was known as the "heavenly pass" and a crucial battleground, serving as the import and export point for "salt, sugar, textiles, and goods" throughout Taiwan, with the goddess Mazu providing blessings for safe navigation. However, after numerous natural disasters, the Tainan Inner Sea turned into muddy land, and the port functions were lost, leading to the decline of the settlement and its transformation into a small fishing village, with the Mazu Temple also collapsing. After the establishment of the Republic of China, Taiwan experienced an economic revival, leading to the reconstruction of the current layout. The Mazu statue worshipped in the Luerhmen Mazu Temple is carved from the precious "Xuan Zhi wood" from mainland China. The temple's exterior is grand and majestic, showcasing the beauty of Chinese temples, including the dragon columns at the front gate, door gods, dougong brackets, the decorative art of the roof, Glazed pottery, wall carvings, caissons, corridors, and courtyards, all of which are worth carefully visiting in the Luerhmen Mazu Temple. Every year, from December of the lunar calendar to March of the following year, Luerhmen Mazu Temple holds a cultural season featuring rich and distinctive content, divided into nine main parts: cultural customs, religious beliefs, ancient fishing village, rural nostalgia, Tainan River origins, public opinion square, passing on the flame, cultural camps, and publishing cultural materials. This cultural event combines folk arts, humanities, religions, and natural ecology, taking place over a span of four months. Under the planning and preparation of the Mazu Temple management committee, about 70 dynamic and static units are exhibited each year, immersing people in historical and local sentiments, rekindling long-dormant enthusiasm, and enriching people's inner selves and spirits. (The information in this article references the Luerhmen Mazu Temple website.)
