Zhongli Renhai Temple

Zhongli Renhai Temple is a Mazu temple located in Xinjie Village, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City. It was founded in 1826 and was originally a Guanyin Pavilion. In 1867, the main deity worshipped was changed to Mazu, and the local people refer to this Mazu as "Zhongli Ma." Together with the Pingzhen Baozhong Shrine, Zhongli Mazu plays a central role in the religious network encompassing thirteen villages across Zhongli, Pingzhen, and Yangmei.

This statue of Zhongli Mazu belongs to the incense-branching system derived from the Mazu worship tradition in Beigang, Yunlin.

The statue is carved from agarwood, weighing 57 kilograms, with a height of approximately 109 centimeters and a width of about 65 centimeters. It was meticulously crafted by Li Feng-Qiang’s team and donated by Chiang Min-Chi.

Renhai Temple’s Zhongyuan Pudu (Ghost Festival) is mainly held on the 20th day of the seventh lunar month, although it was traditionally observed on the 23rd in earlier times. The sacrificial circle overseen by Renhai Temple and Pingzhen Baozhong Shrine includes thirteen villages in the Zhongli, Pingzhen, and Yangmei areas. These thirteen villages are divided into seven groups, each taking turns to organize the Zhongyuan Pudu annually.

For example, in the year 2000, the turn to host the ritual fell on Zhongli Renhai Temple, represented by nine villages from Pingzhen: Fudan, Guangda, Guangxing, Shuanglian, Gaoshuang, Songwu, Yimin, Guangren, and Yixing. Meanwhile, four villages from Yangmei—Gaorong, Gaoshan, Qingshan, and Xinrong—held their Pudu rituals at Baozhong Shrine.

Additionally, on the 14th day of the eighth lunar month, representatives from Guanglong Temple in Pingzhen, responsible for the upcoming ceremony, make a special trip to Renhai Temple to invite Mazu to participate in the Ping'an Opera (Peace Opera) event the next day.