Xianlianggang Tianhou Ancestral Temple

Xianlianggang Tianhou Ancestral Temple

Xianlianggang Tianhou Ancestral Temple is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site protected by Fujian Province.

Xianlianggang Tianhou Ancestral Temple is located in Zhongmen Town, Xiuyu District, Putian City, Fujian Province, facing the Mazu Ancestral Temple on Meizhou Island from afar. Also known as "Huangluo Port," the area is now called Gangli Village. It was formerly under the jurisdiction of Zhongmen Town, Putian County, and is now administered by Shanting Township on the northern shore of Meizhou Bay.

The Xianlianggang Tianhou Ancestral Temple houses statues of Mazu’s parents and a Song Dynasty “divinely crafted” image of Mazu, as well as memorial tablets of Mazu’s ancestors. According to the Records of the Heavenly Empress, Mazu’s great-grandfather “Baoji abandoned his official post and lived in seclusion at Xianlianggang.” Located on the mainland just across the water from Meizhou Island, this place—known today as Gangli Village in Zhongmen Town and once called Hongluo Port—is the birthplace of Mazu. During the Song Dynasty, Mazu was conferred the title of “Ancestral Aunt” by imperial decree. After Lin Mo ascended to heaven, a wooden statue of her as the Ancestral Aunt was enshrined in the ancestral temple of the Lin family in Xianlianggang. In the 19th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty, the ancestral temple collapsed, and an imperial eunuch was dispatched to repair it and conduct ceremonies. During the Jiajing reign, when coastal areas were harassed by Japanese pirates, all the village homes were burned down, yet the ancestral temple remained untouched. In the early Qing Dynasty, boundary restrictions led to the temple’s abandonment. It was rebuilt after the boundary was reopened in the 21st year of the Kangxi reign. In the 59th year of Kangxi’s reign, an imperial edict stated: “The ancestral temple of the Heavenly Empress’ birthplace shall be honored with seasonal sacrifices by local officials, and this shall be included in the official rites.” In the first year of the Jiaqing reign, honors were bestowed upon her forebears; in the eighth year of Jiaqing, an imperial edict conferred the titles of “Jiqing Gong” and “Lady Jiqing Gong” upon Mazu’s paternal grandmother and her wife. Due to Xianlianggang being 80 li from the county seat and transportation being inconvenient, local officials had since the Qianlong reign held seasonal sacrifices at Wenfeng Palace in the county town, with Lin family members from Gangli managing the ceremonies. At that time, the ancestral temple had suffered damage from wind, rain, and termites, with leaking roofs and tilting walls, so it was decided to rebuild it on the high ground behind the original site. Lin Qingbiao, a descendant of the Shaogzhou lineage and an educational officer in Hui’an County (son of Lin Yuan, who served as an Imperial Stable Minister under Emperor Yongzheng), wrote to his eldest son Lin Pei (then an educational officer in Fengshan County, Taiwan Prefecture) to raise funds for reconstruction in Taiwan. The project was completed in September of the 51st year of the Qianlong reign. The temple still preserves a stone inscription written by Lin Qingbiao titled Record of the Reconstruction of the Tianhou Temple.

Today, Xianlianggang Tianhou Ancestral Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Fujian Province. Surrounding the temple are ancient relics such as the “Shoufu Well,” the “Three Incense Sticks” reef, the “Five Emperors Temple,” the “Song Dynasty Pagoda,” and the “Ancient Wharf.” The temple also houses precious cultural artifacts including a Qing Dynasty plaque inscribed with “Imperial Decree for Seasonal Sacrifices,” a stone tablet recording the “Reconstruction of the Tianhou Ancestral Temple,” plaques listing the “Historical Imperial Titles Conferred Upon Mazu,” and the Chronicles of the Imperial Conferment of the Heavenly Empress—all of significant historical value. Historical records indicate that Xianlianggang was a bustling commercial port during the Song Dynasty, as evidenced by the more than 600-meter-long Song Dynasty stone wharf that still exists. On either side of the wharf stand two unique Song Dynasty temples—the Lingci East Palace and the Lingci West Palace. When the tide rises, gentle waves lap the shore, sea spray flies like snow, and gulls and boats compete to enter the harbor. Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the tides are at their highest, the “Autumn Tide at Luogang” spectacle can be observed.

Lin Mo, also known as Momei, is affectionately called “Auntie,” “Niangma,” or “Mazu” by the people. She was from Putian.

Born on the 23rd day of the third month in the first year of the Jianlong reign during the Song Dynasty (960 AD) into an official family on Meizhou Isle, Putian County, she never cried from birth until she was one month old. Because of this, she was named “Mo,” also called “Momei.” Her great-grandfather Baoji served in the Zhou Dynasty as a military commander but resigned and lived in seclusion on Meizhou. Her grandfather Fu inherited the family’s honors and served as the Fujian Regional Commander. Her father Yuan was a coastal patrol inspector in Fujian during the early Song Dynasty. Lin Mo was exceptionally intelligent; at the age of eight, she could grasp the gist of texts while studying with a tutor. As she grew older, she enjoyed chanting scriptures and practicing Buddhism. She... More details about Lin Mo ++

Shanting Town: Shanting Town is located in the southern part of Xiuyu District, Putian City, Fujian Province. It administers 15 administrative villages. The Puxian Highway runs through the town. There is a ferry from Wenjia to Meizhou Island. It is part of the Northern Shore Economic Development Zone of Meizhou Bay. On October 27, the Provincial Department of Civil Affairs approved the adjustment of the administrative divisions of Zhongmen Town, adding three new townships: Shanting, Dongpu, and Yuetang.

　Shanting, historically known as Wuliting, belonged to Xin’an Li in Chongfu Township, Putian County, under the Xinghua Prefecture. The name Shanting originated when the Shanting Brigade was established. At that time, villages such as Wuliting and Nanshan (including Dingnanshan and Xiannanshan) merged to form a single production brigade, taking the name Nan... More details about Shanting Town ++