Liuxing Temple Introduction
Liuxing Temple was founded by General Wang De-lu. According to legend, it has close ties with the Xinguang Fengtian Temple and the Beigang Chaotian Temple, all of which trace their origins to the three Mazu statues inherited from the Bengang Tianhou Temple.
It is said that in the second year of the Jiaqing period (1797), the Bengang River (now known as Xinguang River) flooded, destroying the streets of Bengang and the earliest Mazu temple in the Chiayi area – the Bengang Tianhou Temple. The three Mazu statues originally enshrined in the temple were temporarily enshrined in the Tudi Gong Temple until the completion of the Xinguang Fengtian Temple initiated by General Wang De-lu in the sixteenth year of Jiaqing (1811). In the sixth year of the Daoguang period (1826), a competition arose between Xinguang Fengtian Temple and Beigang Chaotian Temple to worship the Mazu statues. Mediated by General Wang De-lu, it was decided that the eldest Mazu would be enshrined in Xinguang Fengtian Temple, the second Mazu in Beigang Chaotian Temple, and the third Mazu would be taken back to General Wang's home in the northern bank of the river for worship. Subsequently, General Wang built a new temple on the left side of his home (now No. 1, Lane 3, Xibei Village, Xinguang Township), hoping that the six villages of Xibei, Yuemei, Yuetan, Anhe, Houcuozi, and Liudouzi would prosper, thus naming it "Liuxing Temple."
In 1906, an earthquake in Chiayi caused Liuxing Temple to collapse and be damaged. In the third year of the Taisho era (1914), Wang De-lu's descendants, including Wang Shun-ji and others, invested to hire master craftsman Chen Ying-bin to rebuild Liuxing Temple at its current location (No. 65, Xibei Village, Xinguang Township). Later, in the 40th year of the Republic of China (1951), Liuxing Temple was expanded, continuing until the 50th year of the Republic of China (1961), when the current appearance of Liuxing Temple was completed.
In the 78th year of the Republic of China (1989), Taiwan Television Company broadcast the television drama "Mazu's Legend," making the "Black-faced Mazu" of Liuxing Temple a household name.
