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 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 ...

, where worshippers travel to

Chaotian Temple The Chaotian or Chaotien Temple, officially the Chao-Tian Temple,. & is a temple to the Chinese Goddess Mazu in Beigang Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan. Constructed in 1700, it became one of the most important Mazu temples in Taiwan and is k ...

Beigang, Yunlin Beigang, Hokkō or Peikang is an urban township in Yunlin County, Taiwan. It is primarily known for its Chaotian Temple, one of the most prominent Temples of Mazu on Taiwan. It has a population of 37,899 as of September 2022. Geography The ...

on foot.

History

The coastal village of Baishatun was first inhabited during the reign of Qianlong Emperor, where a rudimentary temple was built here to pray for the safety of fishermen. Towards the end of

Xianfeng Emperor The Xianfeng Emperor (17 July 1831 – 22 August 1861), or by temple name Emperor Wenzong of Qing (), given name Yizhu (), was the eighth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigned from 1850 t ...

's reign, local residents donated money to build a larger temple made of brick, which was completed in 1863 ( Tongzhi 2); this temple was named Gongtian Temple. Later, the temple was renovated twice, in 1936 and 1990, into the reinforced concrete structure today. Formerly, visitors by car must cross railway tracks and drive through tight alleys to get to Gongtian Temple, which caused congestion and traffic accidents. Therefore, in 2019, an overpass was built specifically for tourists, which goes around Baishatun to connect Provincial Highway 1 with Gongtian Temple's parking lot.

Architecture and deities

Gongtian Temple is a three-story reinforced concrete building, where the first floor is dedicated to Mazu, the second to

Guanyin Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She ...

, and the third to Jimnu Niangniang. There are also altars for

Shennong Shennong (), variously translated as "Divine Farmer" or "Divine Husbandman", born Jiang Shinian (), was a mythological Chinese ruler known as the first Yan Emperor who has become a deity in Chinese and Vietnamese folk religion. He is vene ...

and

Guan Yu Guan Yu (; ), courtesy name Yunchang, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Along with Zhang Fei, he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on ...

. The Mazu statue that is used on the annual pilgrimage is named Dama (大媽) and has movable limbs. This statue predates the temple itself; temple officials believe that the statue is at least two hundred years old. The temple also owns two more Mazu statues known as Erma (二媽) and Sanma (粉面). The former's face is painted black, while the latter's face is skin-toned. These two statues do not embark on the pilgrimage to Beigang; however, Erma is used on tours within Baishatun itself, while Sanma is used during festivals in the temple.

Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage

Prior to the completion of Gongtian Temple, Baishatun residents already had the practice of making pilgrimages to

and other major temples in the south on foot. Unlike the similar Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage does not have a set route; rather, the route is determined on the way by Mazu and the people that carry the statue. In 2010, the pilgrimage was recognized as a national cultural asset.

References

{{commons category, Baishatun Gong Tian Temple, Baishatun Gongtian Temple 1863 establishments in Taiwan Religious buildings and structures completed in 1863 Mazu temples in Miaoli County