Day 8 - Day 14

Month of Pu-Tu in Lukang

　

Day Eight ~ Day Fourteen

Day Eight, Around the New Temple

　　The New Temple is Xinzu Temple, or New Mazu Temple, built in 1786 in the Qing Dynasty after the Lin Shuangwen rebellion was quelled. It is the only Mazu temple in Taiwan constructed by the government. Once you are here, do not forget to take a good look at Mazu’s guardian generals, Qianliyan and Shunfenger, who can see a thousand miles and hear up the wind. They are both in official costumes and wearing official hats! At the present, the Management Committee and the local residents still celebrate Pu-Tu on July 8^th at the front square of the temple.

Photo 8-1: Xinzu Temple, the New Temple

　

Photo 8-2: Xinzu Temple, the New Temple

Photo 8-3: Pu-Tu ceremony at the New Temple

Photo 8-4: the square in front of the New Temple

Day Nine, Xinghua Mazu Temple

　　Xinghua Mazu Temple is known as Xingan Temple today. Built under the reign of Kangxi Emperor, it is one of the most historical Mazu temples in Lukang. When people from Xinghua, Fujian Province, came to Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, they carried Mazu’s incense with them. They then constructed this temple close to the herbs market. It was the religious center for all the people from Xinghua. The word “Xingan” means "Xinghua Ping An" (Peace for Xinghua.) The temple faces the south, and its body is in a Town-house structure. Though it is small, it has its own front square, Sanchuan Palace (the hall with three gates), worship hall, and main palace. In sum, Xingan Temple is a typical structure of a rectangular temple. The space for the herbs market is retained at the front square. Xingan Temple is a historical site designated by Changhua County. On July 9^th of the lunar calendar, the Management Committee and local residents still follow the tradition and celebrate Pu-Tu at the front square.

Photo 9-1: Stone Monument at Xingan Temple

Photo 9-2: Xingan Temple

Day Ten, the End of the Harbor

　　 Lukang was one of the busiest harbors in Taiwan in early years. In those days, Formosan sika deer liked to gather at this harbor and hence the harbor was called Lukang (i.e., Deer Harbor.) The end of the harbor is at the south of Longshan Temple. It is the wharf at the most upstream of Lukang.

Photo 10: End of the Harbor (Daitian Temple)

Day Eleven, Vegetable Gardens

　　Vegetable Gardens are today’s Caiyuan Neighborhood, at the southwest side of Lukang Elementary School. During the Qing Dynasty, the residents here, at the west end of Lukang, were mostly vegetable and hog farmers. This is the origin of the village’s name. Huang was the main family name in this neighborhood, and the Huangs were one of the most powerful families in Lukang. This area was divided into Top Vegetable Garden and Bottom Vegetable Garden, with a narrow gate in between. The two neighborhood temples are Shunyi Temple (dedicated to Lord of Shunfu) in Top Vegetable Garden and Tzuji Shrine (dedicated to Emperor of Dark Heaven) in Bottom Vegetable Garden.

　　During the Japanese Colonial Rule, there were two traders in Vegetable Gardens starting as rice mills, De-He Huang and Ching-Yuan Huang, each on one side of Caiyuan Road. The merchant Ching-Yuan Huang built a Japanese-Western mansion in 1935, with a beautiful grid door plated with gold for celebrations and festivals on the front and silver for funerals at the back. This mansion is hence called “Palace of Gold and Silver”. Both the grid door and the architecture are designated as cultural assets by the Changhua County government.

Photo 11: Caiyuan Neighborhood

Day Twelve, Longshan Temple

　　Longshan Temple is one of the flagship temples in Lukang. It was built by settlers from Quanzhou. When they crossed the seas, they brought the Guanyin statue from Longshan Temple at their hometown Anhai with them. Later they built a temple for Guanyin next to the Lukang River.

　　Longshan Temple was relocated to its current site in 1786. The architecture is quaint, solemn, and magnificent. It is divided into Mountain Gate (the entrance to the temple), Five-door Palace, Stage, Worship Hall, Main Hall, and Temple Apse. The elegant architecture and craftsmanship of Longshan Temple in Lukang is a classic of traditional temples in Taiwan. It is classified as a national historic site. During the Japanese Colonial Rule, it served as the branch temple of Honggan-ji Temple in Kyoto. There is a Japanese shrine and an awarded Amitabha statue at Temple Apse. The Management Committee here holds a Pu-Tu puja at Temple Apse on July 12^th of the lunar calendar each year.

Photo12-1: Longshan Temple in Lukang

Photo 12-2: Mountain Gate of Longshan Temple in Lukang

　

Day Thirteen, Yamen

　　Yamen was the aboriginal affairs subprefect under the Qing Dynasty. It was located at the south of Rice Market Street and inside today’s Lukang Elementary School. There was a jail close by, and also a public execution site for beheadings. The other version of the Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang says “Thirteen, Jinsheng Lane,” which is located between Zhongshan Road and Meishi Street today. Many government officials working in Yamen lived here.

Photo 13-1: Lukang Elementary School (Ancient Yamen)

Photo 13-2: Jasmin Old Mansion, No. 1, Jinsheng Lane

　

Day Fourteen, Hungry Ghost Yard

　　Hungry Ghost Yard is the square in front of City God Temple. It was a small market. In the past, fishermen and wharf workers came here for food. This funny name was created because these people were so hungry that they could not follow good eating manners but ate quickly and loudly.

After the Second World War, Lukang Township Office established the second public retail market here. This site was the hub for eateries in northern Lukang and a must-visit for foodies who came to Lukang for religious purposes. All the street vendors have relocated. It is now Lukang Art & Culture Square.

Photo 14-1: Hungry Ghost Yard

Photo 14-2: Hungry Ghost Yard at Night

Source:

1. http://crgis.rchss.sinica.edu.tw/temples/ChanghuaCounty/lugang/0702004-XZG

2. https://www.facebook.com/291784404184201/posts/3735755229787084/

3. http://outdooredu.skjh.chc.edu.tw/lukang/modules/tadnews/index.php?nsn=79

4. http://www.lungshan-temple.org.tw/

5. https://blog.xuite.net/a0932542738/twblog/127519882-鹿港通港普(Pu-Tu All over Lukang)

6. https://ourlukang.org/song-for-lukangpurdue-1/

Source of photo:

Photo 8-1, 8-2, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 10, 11-1, 12-1, 12-2, 13-1, 13-2, 14-1, 14-2: taken by Lukang Explorers

Photo 8-3, 8-4: Facebook Xinzu Temple in Lukang – the only government-built temple on both sides of the Strait (Tianhou Temple built under the Order from Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty)