Orthodox Lu-Erh-Men Sheng Mu Temple, Annan District, Tainan City, Taiwán
The Orthodox Luermen Mazu Temple is the world’s largest Mazu temple. It was established in 1661 by Koxinga after he arrived in Taiwan to expel the Dutch. Rumor has it that upon successfully landing in Taiwan, Koxinga and his crew saw a Mazu temple and believed their success in driving out the Dutch was due to the blessing of Mazu. Koxinga therefore appropriated the funds to renovate and expand the temple to enshrine the statues of the Mazu of Civil Affairs, the Mazu of Military Affairs, and the Mazu of National Prosperity that accompanied the fleet.
The temple was designated to perform the important Spring and Fall Ceremonies. In 1831, flooding of the Zengwun River destroyed the original Luermen Mazu Temple and the statues it enshrined were relocated to Sanjiao Hai’an Temple and Tainan’s Shuixian Temple. In 1913, a ritual boat of the Wang Ye folk religion from Quanzhou’s Fumei Temple was found drifting at a location close to Luermen Mazu Temple’s modern site. Locals gave prayers to Mazu and obtained her approval to retrieve the boat and prepare for the reconstruction of the Luermen Temple, this time dedicated to both Mazu and Wang Ye. The very popular Luermen Mazu Temple, which draws a large crowd of worshippers, was reconstructed for the third time in 1981 and adopted the official name of Orthodox Luermen Sheng-Mu (Mazu) Temple.
Epic Taiwan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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