There are numerous temples, both small and large, in Lukang's old town, many of which were built around the 18th century. Due to time constraints and the large number of people, we were only able to view the temples from the outside, so there aren't many pictures.
Lukang Mazu Temple (鹿港天后宮)
Lukang Mazu Temple is one of Taiwan's longstanding temples with a history of nearly 400 years. It is recognized as a National Historic Site of Taiwan. In 1591, trade between Lukang and coastal towns in mainland China flourished, prompting local residents to raise funds for the construction of Lukang Tianzhu Temple. The ruins of the original temple can be found in Sanjiao Lane on the north side of the site. In 1683, due to the cramped space of the Tianhou Temple, the old temple was relocated to the current site for reconstruction. It took ten years to complete and was known as Shih-Zhen (later renamed Babaozhen). Its completion attracted a large number of immigrants to settle in the Changhua Plain, turning Lugang into a bustling immigrant town.
In 1725, due to the increasing popularity of the temple, wealthy merchants such as Shi Shibang contributed to expanding its land. In 1814, the Tianhou Temple fell into disrepair, leading merchants from commercial unions to jointly fund its renovation. By 1815, the reconstructed Tianhou Palace was completed. In 1923, the temple underwent a major renovation that lasted 14 years. In 1974, a large archway was constructed in front of the temple square, and the four-story Shengen Building was preserved for pilgrims. In 1990, the temple established the Mazu Cultural Relics Museum on the first floor of the apse, exhibiting cultural relics from the temple's long history. In 1994, a new ten-story pilgrim building was constructed, which opened in 1998. On October 1, 2019, the temple was upgraded to a "National Site."
Xinzu Temple (新祖宮)
Lukang New Ancestor Palace, officially known as Chijian Tianhou Palace, is the only Mazu temple in Taiwan that was built using official funds from the emperor. Due to its imperial construction, there is a "Civil and Military Officials Dismounting Monument" in front of the temple. The statue of Mazu enshrined in Xinzu Palace is known as the "soft body ma." While the head, hands, and neck are carved from wood, the body is made of rattan, allowing it to move its limbs. Additionally, the statues of the deputy gods, "General Jin's Clairvoyance" and "General Liu Shunfeng Er," on both sides of Mazu wear Qing Dynasty official attire, making them quite unique. Being an official temple, during the Qing Dynasty, officials were responsible for offering monthly sacrifices.
Chenghuang Temple (鹿港城隍廟)
Lukang Chenghuang Temple is a temple dedicated to the City God and was formerly known as Aoting Palace. It has been designated as a historic site in the county since 1985. The Chenghuang Temple in Lukang is derived from the Shishi Chenghuang Temple in Fujian, which, in turn, originated from the Yongning Chenghuang Temple. However, there are differing opinions regarding the temple's construction date. According to the "Temple Account," the temple was built in 1754. The presence of temple side gates known as "Gui Gui Cheng" in the densely populated street houses supports this claim. Another theory suggests the year 1839 based on the earliest surviving cultural relics in the temple, a pair of erected stone pillars.
In 1848, the temple was severely damaged by a major earthquake. However, as Lugang was still flourishing at the time, it received strong local support and was quickly rebuilt. During the Japanese occupation in 1934, the front portion of the City God Temple was demolished as part of city street corrections. It was replaced with a round gable street house facade and an asbestos roof. It wasn't until the completion of a renovation project that the temple gate was restored to its traditional form.
Sanshan Guowang Temple (鹿港三山國王廟)
Lukang Sanshan King Temple was established in 1737. Based on ancient architecture, it is speculated that the temple underwent two or three reconstructions throughout its history. In the 1910s, during the Japanese occupation, according to the "Temple Account," the Sanshan King Temple consisted of a three-entry building. However, by then, the temple's incense offerings had significantly declined. In 1929, due to urban corrections, the original Sanshan King Temple located on a planned road was forced to be demolished. It was then rebuilt at its current site using old building materials. In 1934, the road was widened from approximately 7 meters to 15 meters, requiring the demolition of the Sanchuan Gate and worship hall. Only the main hall of the temple remained.
Nanjing Temple (南靖宮)
Lukang Nanjing Palace is a county-designated historic site announced on July 14, 2000. The temple is dedicated to the immigrants from Nanjing County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province. Construction of Nanjing Palace began in 1783, with the temple dedicated to Emperor Guan. After World War II, in 1969, businessman Zeng Jiqing contributed 50,000 yuan to assist in the renovation of the apse, which was completed in 1971. Following its designation as a historic site, the Nanjing Palace underwent another renovation in 2003. The temple consists of a wide single bay and includes the Sanchuan Hall and the main hall, forming a pattern with two entrances and one courtyard. The main door is adorned with the work of Lugang craftsman Wang Yihe, while couplets written by Zhu Qinan and Chen Baichuan flank the entrance.
Lugang Lungshan Temple (鹿港龍山寺)
Lukang Lungshan Temple is the main temple dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva and is currently recognized as a national monument. In 1647, immigrants from Quanzhou brought the statues of Xiangxiang Daxie Buddha from Quanan Longshan Temple to Da You Street in Lukang. In 1786, the Zen master moved the statues to their present location. Several reconstructions and renovations were carried out over the years, including a major overhaul in 1831. In the late 19th century, the Japanese military rented the back hall of Lukang Longshan Temple and established a school. In 1945, following Japan's surrender in World War II, the Chinese National Government took charge of Taiwan, and the temple was reorganized by the Tan Yue Organization Management Committee. In 1961, the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva was rebuilt, and the original Amitabha Buddha statue was moved to the apse. In December 1983, the Ministry of the Interior registered Lukang Longshan Temple as a national first-class monument (now a national monument).
Lukang Lungshan Temple is a large building and is considered one of the most complete examples of Qing Dynasty architecture in Taiwan. The temple covers an area of over 1,600 pings and follows an architectural pattern of three entrances and two courtyards. It consists of Shanmen, Wumen Temple (including the stage), the main hall (including the worship hall), and the apse.
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