Dongtou Taiyin Palace

Dongtou Taiyin Palace

Dongtou Taiyin Palace is located in Aodi Village, Damen Town, Dongtou County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is said that the origin of Taiyin Palace on Dongtou Island was on Niyu Island, where it was first built during the Yongzheng era (1723–1735) of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to various reasons, it was damaged. In the 1980s, local villagers spontaneously raised funds to renovate it, and it has been awarded the title of Civilized Religious Activity Site multiple times.

Taiyin Palace consists of two main parts: the mountain gate and the main hall, covering a total area of about 750 square meters. The main hall is 10.75 meters high, 15 meters deep, and 20 meters wide. Inside the hall, the shrine is divided into upper and lower levels, with the Upper Level enshrining Laozi, the Supreme Old Lord, and the Lower Level enshrining the Holy Mother of Taiyin. On both the east and west sides of the main hall, there are two auxiliary halls respectively dedicated to deities such as heavenly kings and immortals. The entire structure is grand and imposing, with an impressive scale and majestic presence.

In southeastern China, there are two renowned immortal figures: one is "The Goddess on Land" Chen Jinggu, also known as "Niangnai," from southern Zhejiang and northern Fujian, and the other is "The Goddess of the Sea" Mazu Lin Moniang from southern Fujian, Taiwan, and Guangdong. The Holy Mother of Taiyin enshrined at Taiyin Palace is Chen Jinggu. Her secular name was Chen Shisanniang. It is said she was a person of the Tang Dynasty, originally named “Chen Jinggu,” born in Lingshui Township, Gutian County, Fujian Province, hence also referred to as “Lady Lingshui.” She has many other honorific titles, such as Lady Dasheng, Lady Chen, Empress Chen, Lady Shunyi, Holy Mother of Shuntian, Heavenly Immortal Mother, Lady Nantai Who Assists the Nation, and Goddess of Birth. In Fujian folklore, she is often affectionately called “Nainai” or “Niangnai,” while in southern Zhejiang, she is more commonly referred to as “Lady Chen Shisanniang.” She is also one of Taiwan’s “Three Goddess Mothers” (the three being Lady Chen, Lady Li, and Lady Lin—deities who protect women and children), commonly called “Lady Chen Dasheng.”

Like other deities worshipped by the people, Chen Jinggu also has a legendary background. It is said that two white hairs born from Guanyin’s battle with the heavens fell to earth and transformed into a male and female serpent that brought harm to the world. Then, three drops of blood from Guanyin’s finger fell as red rain to earth, transforming into Chen Shisanniang of the Chen family. The Chen family had long practiced the Maoshan school of Taoism. The locals begged Chen’s religious leader to come out of seclusion to subdue the serpent demon, but Chen, being ill, was unable to go. Instead, she sent her two sons, Fatong and Faqing, to fight the serpent. Fatong was swallowed by the male serpent, while Faqing barely escaped. The Southern Pole Immortal recommended that Chen Shisanniang go to Mount Lüshan to study Taoist magic. Three years later, after completing her studies, she returned. Holding the sacred bullhorn of Mount Lüshan, Chen Jinggu fought multiple battles and finally eradicated the serpent demon. During this time, she accidentally blew the sacred bullhorn, causing earthquakes and heavy rains. She also killed a thunder god while making rain to save disaster victims, thus violating the “Heavenly Laws” repeatedly. She passed away at the young age of 24.

The Holy Mother of Taiyin is revered for her abilities to “heal the sick, exorcise demons, aid the distressed, relieve calamities, assist in childbirth, protect pregnancies, grant children, and resolve doubts.” She protects the nation and its people, with boundless merit. Her miraculous deeds have spread far and wide across Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, and many parts of Southeast Asia, where temples have been established in her honor.