Liuxing Temple Introduction
Liuxing Temple was founded by General Wang Delu. It is said to be closely related to Xinguang Fengtian Temple and Beigang Chaotian Temple, all of which inherit three Mazu statues from the Benkang Tianhou Temple. According to legend, in the second year of the Jiaqing era (1797), the Benkang Creek (now Xinguang Creek) flooded, destroying the streets of Benkang and the earliest Mazu temple in the Chiayi area, the Benkang Tianhou Temple. The three Mazu statues originally enshrined in the temple had to be temporarily placed in the Tudi Gong Temple before the completion of the new Xinguang Fengtian Temple, which was advocated by General Wang Delu in the 16th year of the Jiaqing era (1811). In the sixth year of the Daoguang era (1826), Xinguang Fengtian Temple and Beigang Chaotian Temple competed to enshrine the Mazu statues. General Wang Delu mediated, deciding to enshrine the first Mazu in Xinguang Fengtian Temple, the second Mazu in Beigang Chaotian Temple, and the third Mazu was brought back by General Wang to be enshrined at his residence in Xibei. Later, General Wang built a new temple on the left side of his residence (now No. 1-1, Xibei Village, Xinguang Township), hoping for prosperity in the six villages of Xibei, Yuemei, Yuetan, Anhe, Houcuozi, and Liudouzi, hence naming it "Liuxing Temple." In 1906, the Jiayi earthquake caused the Liuxing Temple to collapse. In the third year of the Taisho era (1914), the descendants of Wang Delu, Wang Shunqi, and others financed the reconstruction of Liuxing Temple at its current location (No. 65, Xibei Village, Xinguang Township) with the renowned craftsman Chen Yingbin. The expansion of Liuxing Temple continued until the 50th year of the Republic (1961), when it finally took on its present appearance. In the 78th year of the Republic (1989), Taiwan Television Company broadcasted the drama "Mazu's Legend," making the "Black-faced Third Mazu" of Liuxing Temple a household name.
