Liuhe Tianfei Palace

Liuhe Tianfei Palace

Liuhe Tianfei Palace is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Liuhe Tianfei Palace, also known as "Tianfei Lingci Palace" and commonly referred to as "Niángniang Temple," is an important historical site related to the voyages of the Ming Dynasty navigator Zheng He to the Western Seas. It was first built in the fifth year of the Xuanhe era during the Northern Song Dynasty (1123 AD), and relocated to its current site in the second year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1342 AD). According to historical documents, Liuhe Tianfei Palace, along with the Meizhou Mazu Temple, Quanzhou Tianhou Palace, and Tianjin Tianhou Palace, is collectively known as one of the four great Mazu temples of the Yuan Dynasty on the mainland. As a result, Liuhe Tianfei Palace is the oldest, most renowned, and historically unique Mazu temple in the Jiangnan region.

Historical records state that during all seven of Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas, he worshipped the Goddess Mazu here to pray for safe passage at sea, and the ceremonies were highly solemn. Before each of his seven sea voyages, Zheng He would lead his fleet and officers in renovating Tianfei Palace before setting sail from Liujia Port. They would offer incense and prayers to the Sea Goddess, praying for safe travels, and upon each safe return, they would come again to give thanks, present ship models, and erect the "Tongfan Shiji Stele" inside the palace, which documented the events of the seven voyages.

Some historical accounts also note that Zheng He planted various plants brought back from his diplomatic missions—such as Western crabapple, red peonies, and yellow roses—within the palace grounds. Of particular importance, the "Tongfan Shiji Stele" records that in the winter of the fifth year of the Xuande era, before Zheng He embarked on his seventh voyage, he also visited the temple to offer incense and conducted renovations.

In the fourth year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1843 AD), Lin Zexu, then serving as Governor of Jiangsu, oversaw the renovation of Tianfei Palace. In the autumn of 1911, the main hall was destroyed in a fire, leaving only the rear hall. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the site was repurposed as a grain storage facility, among other uses. The surviving rear hall of Tianfei Palace was built during the Qing Dynasty. In 1995, it was listed as a Jiangsu Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and designated as an approved Taoist activity site. On April 30, 2011, the restoration of Liuhe Tianfei Palace was completed, and a grand ceremony was held to consecrate the Mazu statue.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units