Dongshan Tin Hau Temple

Dongshan Tin Hau Temple

The Tin Hau Temple is located in Gongqian Village, the southernmost fishing village on Dongshan Island. It is a 15-kilometer drive from Xipu County Town along the Xichen Highway.

The temple faces west and backs onto green hills, overlooking Gongqian Bay. It is a Mazu temple branched off from the Meizhou Mazu Temple during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty. The single-courtyard structure is accompanied by auxiliary halls on the left and showcases Ming Dynasty architectural style. Inside, a statue of Mazu is enshrined, and a green-background, gold-lettered imperial plaque inscribed with the “Kangxi Decree Banner Text” is hung. The plaque was erected in the 24th year of Kangxi’s reign (1685). Three pairs of couplets are also displayed on the temple’s pillars: “Divine virtue as vast as the heavens calms seas across ten thousand miles; Maternal reverence as noble as an empress honors Mazu through eternal rites at Meizhou”; “Originating from Meizhou, absorbing moonlight and swallowing rivers to pacify the seas; the shrine guards Ling Island, showering blessings and Buddhist grace upon the people”; “Majestically radiant, the sister of heaven; abundantly bestowing blessings on the shores of water.” These verses praise Mazu’s merits in “protecting the nation and sheltering the people.”

A temple gains fame through its spiritual power. This ancient small temple, the Tin Hau Temple, is renowned far and wide, attracting endless streams of pilgrims and visitors, all due to the legendary “miraculous powers” of Mazu. According to records: In the 21st year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign during the Qing Dynasty (1687), in preparation for the campaign to reclaim and unify Taiwan, the emperor ordered General Shi Lang, commander of the Fujian Navy, to lead a force of 40,000 troops to conduct pre-campaign drills at Pinghai Bay (Gongqian Bay) on Dongshan Island, with the command post set up next to the Mazu Temple. At that time, there was only one well in Gongqian Village, located slightly left front of the Mazu Temple, which could only supply water for the hundred or so local fishermen. The navy faced severe water shortages, so Shi Lang prayed to Mazu and made a vow for her help, ordering soldiers to dig deeper into the well. To everyone's surprise, a powerful spring burst forth, providing ample water for the entire naval force. This greatly boosted both military morale and civilian support, ensuring the success of the pre-campaign training. After the navy set off, the well returned to its original capacity of serving just the hundred or so villagers. Out of gratitude, people called it the “Army Well,” and the name has been passed down to this day. Another legend says that when Shi Lang led forces to reclaim Penghu and achieved a great victory over the enemy, the robes of the Mazu statue in the temple were found to be wet, as if Mazu herself had gone to sea to assist in the battle. After Taiwan was reclaimed, General Shi Lang submitted a memorial to the emperor detailing how Mazu had miraculously assisted in the campaign and requested that she be granted an imperial title. Deeply moved, Emperor Kangxi, in the 23rd year of his reign (1684), dispatched an official from the Ministry of Rites to the Mazu Temple to perform a sacrificial ceremony and conferred upon Mazu the title of “Protection of the Nation and Shelter of the People, Wonderful Spirit, Illuminating Response, Compassionate and Benevolent Heavenly Queen.” Due to this imperial honor, Mazu was elevated from “Heavenly Empress” to “Heavenly Queen,” and the temple was henceforth named “Tin Hau Temple.” The memorial and sacrificial text were all engraved on the imperial plaque inside the temple.

Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission