The Chaotian or Chaotien Temple, officially the Chao-Tian Temple,
[. & ] is a
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
to the
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
Goddess Mazu in
Beigang Township,
Yunlin County
Yunlin County ( Mandarin pinyin: ''Yúnlín Xiàn''; Taigi POJ: ''Hûn-lîm-koān''; Hakka PFS: ''Yùn-lìm-yen'') is a county in western Taiwan. Yunlin County borders the Taiwan Strait to the west, Nantou County to the east, Changhua County ...
,
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
.
Constructed in 1700, it became one of the most important
Mazu temples in Taiwan and is known for its extravagant temple architecture. It is visited by more than a million pilgrims every year.
Mazuism
Mazu, the
deified form of the medieval Lin Moniang from
Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...
, has an enthusiastic following on Taiwan. Beigang was one of the most important Taiwanese ports in the 17th century. As Beigang and its economy grew, at the same time the temple grew and expanded. Today the Chaotian Temple at Beigang is an important religious site and pilgrimage destination. Beigang's Mazu tours to other Mazu temples through whole Taiwan every year for visits and inspections.
History
In 1694, a Buddhist monk named Shubi requested that a statue of
Mazu be brought to Beigang from the Chaotian Temple in her hometown of
Meizhou
Meizhou (, Hakka Chinese: Mòichû) is a prefecture-level city in eastern Guangdong province, China. It has an area of , and a population of 3,873,239 million as of the 2020 census. It comprises Meijiang District, Meixian District, Xingning Cit ...
in
Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...
. In 1700, Chen Li-Shum donated a building lot and raised the funds to erect Beigang's own Chaotian Temple.
[ In 1730, the temple was further expanded. In 1770, Penkang Magistrate Hsueh Chao-heng considered that the temple too simple to live up to the dignity of Goddess Matsu. Three years later another reconstruction of the temple started. In 1854 a number of ranking officials initiated a third project, expanding the temple into a palace-type architectural complex. The front wing consisted of worship courtyard and east and west chambers. The second wing was for worship of the Heavenly Mother, third wing for Goddess of mercy; east wing for San-Kuan Heavenly Emperors, west wing for Wenchang God, the 4th wing for Goddess Matsu's parents; east wing for Goddess of Childgiving and west wing, Lang God. Several renovation followed in the 20th century.
]
Beigang Wind Orchestra
The Beigang Wind Orchestra was founded in 1928 by Chen Chia-Hu (). On spiritual days the orchestra marches for the Chaotian temple.
Cultural activities
The Chaotian Temple also owns a cultural hall, where concert, dances and other activities take place. On top of the building is a statue of Mazu. The Chaotian Temple also sponsors events like the Beigang International Music Festival. Since 2020 and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Buddhist Liberation Rite of Water and Land
The Liberation Rite of Water and Land () is a Chinese Buddhist ritual performed by temples and presided over by high monks. The service is often credited as one of the greatest rituals in Chinese Buddhism, as it is also the most elaborate and requ ...
is sponsored by Chaotian Temple to pray for the eradication of the virus.
See also
* Qianliyan & Shunfeng'er
Shunfeng'er is a Chinese sea and door god. He usually appears with Qianliyan as a guardian of the temples of the sea goddess Mazu.
Name
The name "Shunfeng'er" literally means "Wind Accompanying Ears" in reference to his ability to hear any sound ...
* List of Mazu temples around the world
* Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage
The Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage () is usually held annually between lunar January and April in the western plains of Taiwan, a major Taoist religious event since 1863. After every lunar new year, the Mazu statue of Gongtian Temple () at Baishatun ...
* Gongfan Temple
* Xiluo Guangfu Temple
The Xiluo Guangfu Temple () is a prominent Mazu temple in Xiluo Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan.
Name
The temple was named ''Guangfu'' which means wide blessing because of the courtyard house was constructed from the worshiper's donations.
...
* Gongtian Temple
Baishatun Gongtian Temple () is a temple located in Baishatun, Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan. The temple is dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, who is the deified form of Lin Moniang. Gongtian Temple is noted for its annual Baishatun ...
, Miaoli County
* Nanyao Temple
The Nanyao Temple () is a Mazu temple in Nanyao Village, Changhua City, Changhua County, Taiwan. It is designated as a third grade historic building.
History
The construction of the temple was completed in 1738 and originally named Mazu Temp ...
, Changhua County
* Bengang Tianhou Temple
Bengang Tianhou Temple ( zh, t=笨港天后宮, p=Bèngǎng Tiānhòu Gōng) is a temple located in Nangang Village, Xingang Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Sitting on the south shore of the Beigang River, the temple is dedicated to Mazu, Godd ...
, Chiayi County
* List of temples in Taiwan
This is a list of notable temples in Taiwan associated with Chinese folk religion, mostly Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Religious affiliation is based on what each temple registered as to the Ministry of the Interior
An interior ministry ...
* Religion in Taiwan
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
Chaotian Temple website
*
{{coord, 23, 34, 04, N, 120, 18, 16, E, type:landmark_region:TW, display=title
1694 establishments in Taiwan
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1694
Mazu temples in Yunlin County
Mazu temples built by Buddhists
National monuments of Taiwan