Peitian Temple Introduction
Peitian Temple was established in the 26th year of the Kangxi reign. It is said that a person from Dongshi, Lin Ma, who was a devout follower of Mazu, would travel to Mazu temples in other places every year to worship. Due to the arduous journey, he decided that year to bring back a Mazu statue from Meizhou to worship at home. On the way back, Lin Ma stopped to rest at a tea stand under a tree on the south bank of Puzi Creek. The nearby residents learned of this and requested him to stay for a few days so that the public could worship Mazu. However, when Lin Ma wanted to leave a few days later, the statue suddenly became too heavy to move. After consulting the divination, it was revealed that the deity wished to remain there forever. The locals immediately built a small temple for worship. Since there was a tree nearby, it was named "Puzhu Temple." The settlement then developed outward from this temple, leading to the old name "Puzijiao," which originated from this event. "Puzhu Temple" was later renamed "Peitian Temple," with various reasons attributed to the name change. According to a more credible account, when renovations were completed in the 4th year of the Tongzhi reign (1865), the temple board decided on the new name to imply "Sharing everlasting fragrance and contributing to the creation of heaven and earth." Due to its thriving incense offerings, Peitian Temple has undergone continuous renovations over the years, starting with an expansion of the central hall and worship hall in the 54th year of the Kangxi reign. Renovations took place approximately every half century during the Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Tongzhi periods. The fourth major renovation during the Japanese occupation (1915) was believed to be overseen by a renowned master from Zhangzhou, Chen Yingbin, using a method known as "Dui Chang Zuo," and this marked the first time the Japanese government provided financial aid for the construction of temples in Taiwan. Significant changes after World War II included the renovation of the rear hall in the 36th year of the Republic, the construction of a bell and drum tower; the building of a visitor center between the 64th and 66th years; and renovations of the east and west side rooms in the 70th year. The Lantern Festival decoration of flowers has been a distinctive celebration at Peitian Temple for over a century, also linked to General Wang Delu. It is said that Emperor Jiaqing once granted permission to General Wang to hold a lantern festival at his residence for his elderly siblings to enjoy. Later, General Wang moved the lanterns to Peitian Temple to pay tribute to Mazu and allow the public to admire them, thus establishing the lantern festival as a tradition during the Lantern Festival at the temple. Architectural Overview: The layout of Peitian Temple roughly resembles the character "囬" and, like many other temples, features a highly revered central axis. The sequence consists of the most magnificent San Chuan Hall, the grandest main hall, and the rear hall, which serve as the primary worship spaces. The left and right sides house side rooms, which are used for offices and other spaces. Bell and drum towers are positioned on either side of the main hall to highlight the ornate roof lines. Architectural Features: Peitian Temple was renovated using the "Dui Chang Zuo" method. At that time, two groups of craftsmen worked on either side of the central axis, competing with each other to save time. Therefore, standing in the center of San Chuan Hall and looking up at the roof, one can observe that the wooden components and carvings on both sides are asymmetrical, showcasing the unique skills of the two groups of craftsmen.