Xiabutou Tin Hau Temple

Xiabutou Tin Hau Temple

Xiabutou Tin Hau Temple is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Site.

Xiabutou Tin Hau Temple is located in Xiabutou Natural Village, Zhangshutan Village, Zhangtan Subdistrict, Qujiang District. Built along the Quxi River, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage site in January 2011. According to Volume Four of the Republican-era "Qu County Annals": “Tin Hau Temple... one is situated in Zhangshutan, fifteen li east of the city, built in the eighth year of the Jiaqing reign (1803), managed by the Fu family of the Junting guild.” The temple covers an area of 633.02 square meters, with a total built-up area of 963 square meters. Its front facade is a memorial archway-style brick and stone structure, entirely inlaid with brick carvings featuring highly elaborate designs. The main wall on the second floor of the central bay features three large brick-carved characters “Tin Hau Temple” in regular script. The central axis consists sequentially of the front hall, courtyard, middle hall, and rear hall. From the west side room of the rear hall, one can enter the side hall through a corridor, with the side hall facing west and situated eastward.

Mazu, originally named Lin Mo, was born in 960 AD and is regarded as the guardian deity by people in coastal regions. Tin Hau Temples were built by Fujian merchants to enshrine the Heavenly Queen (Mazu). There are many Tin Hau Temples across China, each with its own distinctive architectural style.

This building has a rigorous layout and grand scale. Particularly in the front hall, rear section, and side hall, traces of red lacquer against white plaster can still be seen. The brick carvings and wood carvings reflect the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty, providing tangible material for the study of historical folk architecture.

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites