Songshan Ciyou Temple
Songshan Ciyou Temple, formerly known as Xikou Mazu Temple, is an important religious center located in Songshan District, Taipei. It is one of the oldest and most influential temples in the area. Situated next to Raohe Street Night Market and close to Section 4 of Bade Road and Songshan Station, it serves as a spiritual anchor for local residents. Historically, it was the religious core of the “Thirteen Villages of Old Xikou,” influencing what are today the Songshan, Xinyi, Da’an, Nangang, and Neihu districts.
According to temple records, Ciyou Temple was founded in 1753 (the 18th year of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty) by a traveling monk named Lin Shouyi, who selected the site and initiated its construction. The temple was completed in 1757, located on a geomantically favorable site—facing south with its back to the river and overlooking the Four Beasts Mountains. Originally named Xikou Mazu Temple, it was later renamed Songshan Ciyou Temple in accordance with local toponymic changes. Beyond its local importance, the temple’s Mazu statue was also enshrined in Fujian’s Xianyou during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods.
Historically, Ciyou Temple was not only a center of religious life but also a hub of social and commercial activity. Behind the temple lay the Keelung River port, which served as a transit point along the water route between Tamsui and Xizhi. Before the establishment of Songshan Station, this area functioned as a vital node for goods distribution and passenger movement. Laborers would wait here for shipments to transfer by boat, and the front square of the temple became a bustling center. Early urban development of the area was planned outward from Ciyou Temple, serving as the starting point of Xikou Street and its surrounding villages.
Architecturally, the temple is a prime example of Minnan traditional temple design, featuring a square, enclosed layout. After several reconstructions, its current form is based on a comprehensive renovation by craftsmen from Fuzhou in 1915, followed by repairs in 1937. The main structure consists of a three-hall, five-door, three-courtyard layout, with a triple-eaved main hall. The temple is adorned with colorful, gilded carvings of door gods, hanging ornaments, dougong brackets, and stone pillars. Stone lions and dragon columns also demonstrate the refined craftsmanship of the Qing period. The decorative jiaozhi ceramics on the bell and drum towers were created by Ye Xingyou, a disciple of master Lin Tien-mu, and depict figures such as Guanyin, Mazu, Qianliyan (Thousand-Mile Eye), and Shunfeng’er (Wind-Following Ear).
Inside, the temple preserves numerous historical plaques from the Qing dynasty and Japanese colonial era, including Li Ji Can Tian (Qianlong period), De Shui Ling Yang (bestowed by Fujian officials during the Guangxu period), and Shen Zhi Ge Xi (written by Jinshi Zhao Hongjing). These plaques are treasured cultural relics. The Lingxiao Treasure Hall rises six stories high, with an imposing presence, its couplets and plaques written by respected local elders.
Ciyou Temple also incorporates elements of local culture. For example, the shrine to Zhusheng Niangniang (Goddess of Birth) includes a special figure named “Du Yuniang,” commemorating a woman who selflessly delivered babies free of charge. Moreover, the land next to the temple was donated by the Du family, allowing devotees to establish an association to maintain the temple.
Although the temple was once listed as a local historic site during the Japanese colonial period and designated a third-class monument by Taipei City in 1975, a fire in 1981 destroyed the main hall. To facilitate reconstruction, the temple successfully applied to have its monument status revoked in 1985. It was subsequently rebuilt, and today its incense and worship remain as prosperous as ever.
