Ching Cheng Temple Introduction
Ching Cheng Temple, formerly known as Mazu Temple, was built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty. According to legend, when Emperor Jiaqing visited Taiwan, he arrived at a place known as "Damao" (Ming Hsiung) and, feeling grateful for the blessings of "Heavenly Mother," granted resources to build the temple and sent a renowned temple architect from China to construct it. Therefore, it is the only Mazu temple in Taiwan that has been officially sanctioned by Emperor Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty. The temple primarily enshrines "Da Ma," who holds a high status, serving not only as the religious center of the Ming Hsiung area but also as a sacred temple for Mazu believers from the counties and cities of Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan. On March 17, 1906, during the 39th year of the Meiji era, a major earthquake caused Ching Cheng Temple to collapse, and the land was requisitioned by the Japanese government for road construction. Mazu was temporarily enshrined in the rear hall of the Dashiye Temple in Ming Hsiung. Without a dedicated temple, the believers felt a sense of helplessness; every year during Mazu's birthday procession, the palanquin would linger at the old temple site, reluctant to leave. Mazu also repeatedly communicated her desire for reconstruction through spirit mediums and poetic verses conveyed by her palanquin, expressing hope for rebuilding within a century. In 1999, believers organized a reconstruction committee and actively raised funds for the temple, completing the project after five years.
