Taipei Tianhou Temple — Attraction in Wanhua District

Taipei Tianhou Temple is dedicated to Mazu, the revered sea goddess and protector of seafarers. It is considered one of the "Three Great Temples of Bangka," alongside Longshan Temple and Qingshui Temple.

Originally established in 1746 by immigrants from Quanzhou, Fujian Province, it was first known as Xinxing Temple. The temple was destroyed by fire in 1813 and rebuilt over the following 12 years. During the Japanese colonial period, a Zen Buddhist temple named Hongfa Temple was built on the site in 1899, introducing Japanese architectural influences. After World War II, the temple was rededicated to Mazu. A fire in 1953 led to another major reconstruction, completed in 1959, following traditional Chinese temple design. In 1967, it was officially renamed Taipei Tianhou Temple. Its architecture features ornate carvings, red lanterns, colorful roof dragons, and richly decorated beams. Inside, visitors can find shrines to Mazu and her guardian generals Qianliyan and Shunfeng’er, Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy), Kōbō-Daishi (a reference to its Japanese past), the Earth God, and...

A temple established from 1746 serving Má-tsoó͘, （媽祖）standing inside of hustle bustle Ximending business district, where historical culture blend into modern atmosphere. I must have been here 6 times over the last 5 years. Lit up 5-incense this afternoon, praying to Má-tsoó͘, guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion or goddess of mercy, （觀世音菩薩）, Lord Guan （關聖帝君）, Ksitigarbha （地藏王菩薩）, Lord of Land（福德正神）, Tiangong（玉皇上帝）, in the hope of peaceful and smooth future. Naturally, there are, however, others pray for better fortune, better careers, family event including uneventful pregnancy, smooth delivery, specific gender of coming infant or simply happy family. There are quite a long wishes list people can come here pray and seeking for a hope. For those of you reading this, when are you planning to pay a...

「台北天后宮」（西門町天后宮/西門町媽祖廟），這是一座位於臺北市萬華區的百年廟宇 。台北天后宮主祀「天上聖母」（媽祖），是當地重要的信仰中心。廟宇現址原為日本佛教真言宗的弘法寺，1948年遷至西門町，是當地居民祈求平安的場所。因此也可以看到弘法大師的神像喔，這也吸引許多日本遊客前來朝聖。 台北天后宮的前身是「艋舺新興宮」，興建於清乾隆十一年（1746年），原位於艋舺直興街。因應1943年日本政府的徵收，神像暫奉於艋舺龍山寺，直到1948年才遷至西門町現址。遷廟前，新興宮與龍山寺、祖師廟並稱為「艋舺三大廟門」。 天后宮建築保留傳統的閩南風格，主殿供奉天上聖母媽祖。廟宇自創建以來，經歷多次遷徙與修繕，保存著豐富的歷史文化。媽祖信仰源自福建的海神崇拜，據說是唐山商船將媽祖神像迎至艋舺，最終決定在此安置並興建廟宇，以祈求航海及地方安寧。

"Taipei Tianhou Temple" (Ximending Tianhou Temple/Ximending Mazu Temple), this is a century-old temple located in Wanhua District, Taipei City . Taipei's Tianhou Temple is dedicated to the "Mother of Heaven" (Mazu) and is an important local belief center. The current site of the temple was originally Koboji Temple of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. It was moved to Ximending in 1948 and is a place where local residents pray for peace. Therefore, you can also see the statue of Kobo Daishi, which also attracts many Japanese tourists to come as a pilgrim.

The predecessor of Taipei's Tianhou Temple was "Mengga Xingxing Palace". It was built in the 11th year of Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1746) and was originally located on Zhixing Street in Menga. In response to the expropriation by the Japanese government in 1943, the statue was temporarily enshrined in Mengga Longshan Temple until it was moved to its current location in Ximending in 1948. Before the temple was moved, Xinxing Temple, Longshan Temple and Zushi Temple were known as the "three major temple gates of Menga".

The architecture of Tianhou Temple retains the traditional Minnan style, and the main hall is dedicated to Mazu, the Holy Mother of Heaven. Since its creation, the temple has undergone many moves and renovations, preserving its rich history and culture. Mazu belief originated from the worship of the sea god in Fujian. It is said that Tangshan merchant ships brought the Mazu statue to Menga, and finally decided to place it and build a temple here to pray for navigation and...