Fengtian Temple Introduction
Fengtian Temple in Xinkang Township, which is famous throughout Taiwan, is a county-designated historical site. Originally built in 1700 (the 39th year of the Kangxi era) by local residents on the banks of Bunkang Street in Zhu Luo County, it primarily worships Mazu from Meizhou, and was initially called Tianhou Temple. In 1799 (the 4th year of the Jiaqing era), due to flooding from the Bunkang Creek, the temple was destroyed and temporarily relocated to Mayuanliao, which is today's Xinkang. Later, local residents pooled resources to construct the temple, completing it in 1812 (the 17th year of the Jiaqing era) and officially naming it Fengtian Temple. In addition to Mazu enshrined in the main hall, the back hall is dedicated to Guanyin, with the accompanying worship of Manjushri and Samantabhadra. The left hall enshrines the God of Wealth, while the right hall is dedicated to the Birth Goddess and eight matrons. The left and right wings provide further worship for Wenchang Dijun and Guansheng Dijun, respectively. The two flanking Dragon Halls honor the City God of Bunkang and the benefactor Wang Delu, along with a newly built Lingxiao Palace. The front hall, with three bays, prominently features stone carvings, and the front and rear eaves each have a pair of exquisitely carved stone columns. The front eave features the Eight Immortals coiling dragon columns, while the rear eave has floral and bird columns, both of which date back to the Japanese colonial era, characterized by lively lines and an ancient history, making them extremely precious. The painted central door displays the ascending and descending dragon gate gods, and the side walls are blocked with stone, a rare style in typical temple architecture. Additionally, there are three pairs of stone lions at the temple entrance, which, despite having weathered over a century, remain vibrant and striking. Fengtian Temple also houses a golden-hued plaque honoring Emperor Hirohito of Japan, reportedly installed during the Japanese colonial period to strengthen the loyalty of Taiwanese people to the emperor. After World War II, many longevity plaques in various temples were destroyed, but the plaque at Fengtian Temple was preserved because someone took it home as a keepsake, and it still shines brightly today. Under the light, one can see exquisite chrysanthemum watermarked patterns on the plaque. Aside from these architectural features and historical artifacts, Fengtian Temple enjoys bustling activity throughout the year, with a constant flow of visitors. The first incense of the New Year on the first day and the Mazu procession are major events that bring immense business opportunities to the surrounding neighborhoods.
