Dazhuang Haotian Temple ( zh, t=大庄浩天宮, p=Dàzhuāng Hàotiān Gōng) is a temple located in Dazhuang,

Wuqi District Wuqi District () is a coastal suburban district in southern Taichung, Taiwan. The Port of Taichung is located in Wuqi District. History After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, Wuqi was organized as an urban ...

Taichung Taichung (, Wade–Giles: ''Tʻai²-chung¹'', pinyin: ''Táizhōng''), officially Taichung City, is a special municipality located in central Taiwan. Taichung has approximately 2.8 million residents and is the second most populous city of Ta ...

, Taiwan. The temple is dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu.

History

Haotian Temple was founded in 1738 by

Hakka The Hakka (), sometimes also referred to as Hakka Han, or Hakka Chinese, or Hakkas are a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhej ...

settlers in Chencuozhuang, a village north of the current site, where it was known as Mazu Temple (媽祖厝). In 1856, the temple was moved south to Dazhuang and renamed to Haotian Temple. A front hall was added in 1895, and the entire temple was renovated in 1936. In 1949, the

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

briefly occupied the temple and damaged the Qianliyan and

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 ...

statues. Between 1962 and 1977, a series of construction projects expanded the temple into its current form today. On 2 March 2010, the Taichung County Government designated Haotian Temple as a historic building. Then, on 14 December 2014, a

groundbreaking Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod, or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are ...

ceremony was held to renovate the temple; as of June 2020, the process is still ongoing.

Worship

Haotian Temple is in possession of seven Mazu statues. Out of these, the statue known as "Third Mazu" (三媽) is the original statue of the temple during its founding. It is currently located in the nearby Deshun Temple and is only brought back on special occasions. Every other year, "Third Mazu" is carried by worshippers on a pilgrimage 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 ...

entirely on foot. On the years without a pilgrimage, Haotian Temple holds a parade where Mazu tours the fifty-three villages in its territory. Aside from being known as the "Dazhuang Mazu" (大庄媽), the Mazu worshipped in Haotian Temple is also nicknamed the "Water Diving Mazu" (潛水媽). According to legend, during a pilgrimage to Chaotian Temple in

Beigang Beigang, Hokkō or Peikang is an Township (Taiwan), urban township in Yunlin County, Taiwan. It is primarily known for its Chaotian Temple, one of the most prominent temples of Mazu, Temples of Lin Moniang, Mazu on Taiwan. It has a population of ...

, ferrymen on the

Zhuoshui River The Zhuoshui River, also spelled Choshui or Jhuoshuei River, () is the longest river in Taiwan. It flows from its source in Nantou County up to the western border of the county, subsequently forming the border between Yunlin County and Changhua ...

greedily raised their price. While members of the procession scrambled to get the money, Mazu appeared and lowered the river's water, allowing the procession to cross on foot, which led to the nickname.

In popular culture

Haotian Temple was used as a filming location for the television series '' Lee's Family Reunion'' and the 2012 movie '' Din Tao: Leader of the Parade''. ', a variety show on

SET Taiwan SET Taiwan () is a television channel of the Sanlih E-Television in Taiwan, launched in September 1993. It mainly broadcasts Taiwanese drama. Productions Drama Daily * Ah Bian and Ah Jane * Accompany Me Through Life * Nine Refers to the Bri ...

, has also visited the temple in an episode.

References

{{reflist 1856 establishments in China Religious buildings and structures completed in 1856 Mazu temples in Taichung