Today, we visited Beigang and were greeted by a large crowd of people. There were long lines stretching from the temple to the bridge at the end of Old Street. We learned that President Tsai Ing-wen would be coming here, so we decided to wait for a while. We caught a glimpse of the president for just a few seconds, and I felt really excited. We were even lucky enough to receive a commemorative coin!
Beigang Chaotian Temple (北港朝天宮)
The Chaotian Temple in Beigang was built in 1700 to honor the sea-goddess Mazu. It is one of the most important temples in Taiwan and holds great significance. Beigang was a significant port in the 17th century.
In 1694, the statue of Mazu was brought from Fujian, China, to Beigang. In 1700, Chen Li-Shum donated a piece of land and raised funds to build the Chaotian Temple. The temple underwent several expansions, with the first one taking place in 1730. However, even that expansion was not enough. Another project began in 1773, and in 1854, the temple was expanded into a palace-like architectural complex.
The temple has undergone several renovations throughout its history. In 1894, a fire damaged the front hall, and in 1904 and 1906, earthquakes had an impact on the building. The temple was reconstructed in 1907, and the project was completed in 1912. From 1963 to 1972, the Golden Furnace, Bell, and Drum Tower were newly constructed, and the main hall was raised from 6 to 15 meters. The demolished parts of the wooden structure are also preserved within the temple.
Between 1918 and 1922, the surrounding roads were widened, and the walls surrounding the temple and the urban area were reconstructed. From 1937 to 1940, burning gold paper was forbidden, and the Gold Furnace was demolished. Some of the temple statues were burnt or kept in private collections. The only remaining gods were Mazu and Wu Wenchang. The statue of Mazu is placed on top of the building. The temple worships many other gods, including Heavenly Mother, Goddess of Mercy, Heavenly Emperors, Wenchang God, Goddess of Childgiving, Land God, and Mazu's parents.
Nearby the temple, there is Beigang Old Street, where you can find a variety of delicious street food. In Beigang, you can also see some old buildings, an old water tower, and the bridge at the end of Old Street, which connects Yunlin County with Chiayi County.
See also: Lunar New Year in Taiwan
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