Lukang Xinzu Temple (Imperially Established Mazu Temple)

Lukang Xinzu Temple, officially named the Imperially Sanctioned Tianhou Temple, is a Mazu temple located in Lukang Township, Changhua County, Taiwan. Built in 1788 (the 53rd year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign), it is now designated as a county-level historic site. This temple is the only Mazu temple in Taiwan built under an imperial edict and funded by the Qing court, marked by a stone stele at the entrance that reads, “Civil and military officials must dismount here.”

The temple's origin is closely tied to the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion. In 1786, the rebellion broke out in Taiwan. To suppress it, Emperor Qianlong dispatched Fuk’anggan, the Viceroy of Shaanxi and Gansu, and Hailancha, the assistant minister, who landed in Lukang and successfully quelled the uprising. In gratitude for Mazu's divine protection, the emperor ordered Fuk’anggan to construct a temple in Lukang and granted Mazu the elaborate title:
“Heavenly Empress Who Protects the Nation, Blesses the People, Miraculously Responds, Magnanimously Aids All, and Is Reverently Worshiped Across the Land.”

As Lukang already had an existing Tianhou Temple, the new one was called Xinzu Temple (New Ancestral Temple), while the old temple was renamed Jiu Zu Temple (Old Ancestral Temple). Additionally, the Xing’an Temple in Lukang predates both.

Xinzu Temple underwent renovations in 1806 and 1834, but was damaged during wartime under Japanese rule. It was reconstructed in 1970. One of its most unique features is the “soft-bodied” Mazu statue—the head, hands, and neck are carved from wood, while the body is woven from rattan, allowing movement and the ability to change clothes. The guardian deities, Qianliyan (Thousand-Mile Eye) and Shunfeng’er (Wind-Following Ear), are dressed in official Qing dynasty robes, emphasizing the temple’s imperial character. During the Qing era, government officials took turns offering monthly sacrifices.

The temple also preserves several historical inscriptions, including the 1788 Edict Inscription, 1792 Land Deed Inscription, 1806 Renovation Inscription, and the 1834 Restoration Inscription, collectively known as the “Xinzu Temple Inscriptions”, and considered one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Lukang. The main hall bears the plaque “Virtue of the Empress Equals Heaven”, inscribed by Fuk’anggan himself, enhancing the site’s historical significance.