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Tianhou Temple in Zhupei

2025-09-09
886-3-5553063
新竹縣竹北市仁德街50號
The main deity worshipped at the Tianhou Temple in Zhupei, Tianmu Township, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, is the Mazu, the Sea Goddess, whose statue is the only one made of clay and gilded in Taiwan. The original name of the temple site was Douzijipou or "Bean Orchard". The area includes present-day Zhubei, Zhuren and Zhuyi Village. The name originated from the fact that the area, located on the upper reaches of the Xinzhuangzi Irrigation Canal, was hard to irrigate. Also, the barren land could only grow beans after reclamation. Therefore, it was called "Bean Orchard". Due to the difficulty of farming, many of the residents made their living by fishing. When their ancestors crossed the sea to Taiwan, they brought with them the incense of Mazu, the guardian deity of navigation, to pray for safety and to protect their communities. At the time, the Qing government was very strict with its sea bans. As a result, neither illegal immigrants nor legal settlers could bring their families. This made the people's minds and hearts floating. Fortunately, Mazu's blessings were perceived to be omnipresent. The spirit and faith of the immigrants were then all entrusted to Mazu. For more than a hundred years, during the Lantern Festival, believers would find places to set up stalls to hold three-sacrifice Dharma ceremony for safety and happiness, to express their gratitude to Mazu's grace. This religious activity continued to this day and became a characteristic of the Tianhou Temple.
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