Fengtian Temple Introduction
Fengtian Temple is not just a temple but a part of the daily life of the people of Xinkang. It can be said to be the core of Xinkang. When you arrive here, everything from the incense-filled air to the sounds of drums and gongs demonstrates the close connection between faith and daily life. The temple is dedicated to Mazu, who holds an important position in Mazu worship in Taiwan. The scale of the temple is unique, covering a vast area with a spacious layout. The intricate carvings inside the temple highlight its exceptional qualities compared to other temples. Fengtian Temple houses many rich artifacts that record the history from Benkang to Xinkang. Over different eras, this temple has played various roles, and every tile and brick reflects the hard work and dedication of generations of residents towards this center of faith. The dragon and phoenix carvings in the architecture showcase the efforts of numerous master artists, integrating the cultural characteristics of Xinkang into one temple. From ancient times to the present, Fengtian Temple has attracted many believers. Between the Lunar New Year and the third month, numerous incense groups visit to worship, making this small settlement of Xinkang very lively. Not only incense groups come to pay their respects, but various folk art performances also take place in front of the temple, attracting attention from media both domestic and abroad. This demonstrates the fervent vitality of believers’ devotion to Mazu. In addition to the main hall dedicated to Mazu, the rear hall is dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva, accompanied by Wen Shu and Pu Xian, with the left offering the God of Wealth and the right offering the Goddess of Birth and eight matrons. The side halls also host Wen Chang Di Jun and Guan Sheng Di Jun, while the dragon halls on both sides house the City God of Benkang and the benefactor Wang De Lu. There is additionally a newly built Lingxiao Hall. The front hall features three openings, primarily characterized by stone carvings, with intricately carved stone pillars on both the front and rear eaves. The front eaves have Eight Immortals entwined dragon pillars, and the rear eaves feature flower and bird pillars, which date back to the Japanese colonial period. The lively linework is historically significant and extremely valuable. The middle door is adorned with colorful paintings of the ascending dragon gate deity, and both gable walls are blocked with stone, a rare style in typical temple architecture. Moreover, there are three pairs of stone lions at the temple entrance that, despite enduring over a hundred years of weathering, remain strikingly green and vibrant. Fengtian Temple also holds a bright yellow plaque of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, purportedly installed during the Japanese colonial period to strengthen the notion of Japanese identity among Taiwanese people. After World War II, most plaques from various temples were destroyed, but Fengtian Temple's plaque has been preserved because someone took it home as a keepsake, and it remains shiny and golden to this day. Under the light, one can still observe the exquisite chrysanthemum watermark patterns on it. Besides these architectural features and historical artifacts, Fengtian Temple sees a continuous flow of devotees throughout the year, with the head incense grabbing on the first day of the Lunar New Year and the Mazu pilgrimage being major events, generating immense business opportunities for the surrounding neighborhoods.
