aeeble

During the reign of Emperor Yongli of the Ming Dynasty, a monk who worshipped the goddess Mazu crossed the sea from Fujian to Afu (now Pingtung City). At first, he temporarily enshrined the Mazu statue in the government office for worship. However, what puzzled everyone was that every night at midnight, a flickering red light would appear. At first, no one understood the meaning of the red light. After some time, they finally realized it was a manifestation of Mazu’s divine presence. A meeting was held to discuss the construction of a temple to honor her. This became the distant cause for the founding of Cifeng Temple in 1737 (the 2nd year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign during the Qing Dynasty), and it remains a miraculous story passed down among believers for generations. Since its founding over two centuries ago, Cifeng Temple experienced its most devastating fire in 1983 (Republic of China Year 72), caused by an electrical short circuit that nearly destroyed the front and rear halls. Yet, what brought comfort and amazement to the faithful was that the enshrined deity statues remained completely unharmed. Following this disaster, a large-scale reconstruction project spanning fifteen years was launched, resulting in the temple's current appearance. Above the plaque bearing the name “Cifeng Temple,” the roof is adorned with resplendent cut-and-paste ceramic art, featuring lifelike jiaozhi pottery figures and colorful dragons and beasts. The caisson ceiling above the main hall is constructed from layers of golden-painted dougong brackets, creating a dazzling and majestic sight. Inside the temple are numerous cultural relics over a century old, such as intricately carved stone drums and coiling-dragon stone columns in the main hall, hanging plaques, and stone steles recording historical events—all dating back to the Qing Dynasty. After its reconstruction, Cifeng Temple not only displays a splendid temple courtyard but also embraces creative thinking by hosting numerous cultural activities, allowing people to rediscover the essence of traditional religion. Events such as the Afu Mazu Cultural Festival, joint pilgrimage processions, and competitions featuring the Eight Generals and the Official Generals not only promote religious values but also forge a deeper cultural significance.