Pei Tian Gong Introduction
Peitien Temple was established in the 26th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi. It is said that a resident of Dongshi Banyuanzhuang, Lin Ma, was a devout follower of Mazu and would travel to Mazu temples in other places every year. Due to the arduous journey, he decided that year to bring the Mazu statue back from Meizhou and worship it at his home. On the return trip, Lin Ma stopped to rest at a tea shed under a tree on the southern bank of the Puzih River. When nearby residents learned of this, they requested him to stay for a few days so that people could pay their respects to Mazu. However, several days later, when Lin Ma wanted to set off for home, the statue became so heavy that it could not be moved. After casting lots for divination, the deity indicated that it would forever guard this place. The people then quickly built a small temple for worship; coincidentally, there was a tree beside the temple, which was named "Puzhu Temple." Subsequently, the settlement developed outwards centered around this temple, leading to Puzih being formerly known as "Puzijiao," named after this event. "Puzhu Temple" was later renamed "Peitien Temple," and there are various explanations for this name change. According to the more credible accounts, during the reconstruction in the 4th year of the Tongzhi period (1865), the temple board chose the name to mean "sharing the fragrant offerings through the ages, contributing to the creation of heaven and earth." Due to its thriving activity, Peitien Temple has undergone continuous renovations over the years. The first expansion was in the 54th year of Kangxi, which involved enlarging the main hall and worship hall. Renovations occurred approximately every half century during the periods of Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Tongzhi. During the Japanese occupancy period, the fourth renovation in 1915 was believed to be led by the famous master Chen Yingbin from Zhangzhou, using a method called "duichangzuo," which initiated the official support for the construction of Taiwanese temples by the Japanese government. Significant post-World War II changes included the renovation of the rear hall in the 36th year of the Republic of China and the construction of the Bell and Drum Tower; from the 64th to 66th year, the Pilgrim's Building was built; and in the 70th year, the east and west wings were renovated. The Lantern Festival lighting celebration is the most distinctive event of Peitien Temple for over a hundred years, originating from General Wang De-lu. Legend has it that Emperor Jiaqing once granted General Wang the privilege to hold a lantern festival at his residence for the enjoyment of his elderly brothers and sisters. Later, the general moved the lanterns to Peitien Temple to celebrate Mazu and allow the public to enjoy them, thus establishing the lantern festival as a tradition of the temple during the Lunar New Year. Architecture Introduction: The architecture of Peitien Temple is generally configured in a "回" (circle) shape, similar to other temples. The space along the central axis is the most prestigious, consisting of the magnificent San Chuan Hall, the tallest main hall, and the rear hall, which are the main worship areas. The left and right sides are wings, serving as office spaces. The bell tower and drum tower are set up on both sides of the main hall to highlight the beautiful roof lines. Architectural Features: Peitien Temple was rebuilt using the "duichangzuo" method. At that time, two groups of craftsmen were invited to work on each side of the central axis, achieving the purpose of competition and efficiency. Therefore, standing in the center of San Chuan Hall and looking up at the roof, one can notice that the wooden components and carvings on both sides are asymmetrical, showcasing the skills of the two groups of craftsmen.
