Changhua Nanyao Temple

In the first year of the Qing Emperor Yongzheng's reign (1723), after Changhua County was established, a kiln worker named Yang Qian came from Pengang in Zhuluo County (now Chiayi County) to work in Changhua. He brought the incense of the Heavenly Mother of a temple in Pengang for blessing and protection. The incense was hung in the workshop, and every night, residents nearby saw colorful lights. They believed it was the manifestation of the gods, so the local gentry raised funds to sculpt a statue of the Heavenly Mother and enshrine it in the local temple of the Land God . From then on, the incense grew in popularity.

In the third year of the Qing Emperor Qianlong's reign (1738), the Chen family in Waying Zhuang donated land to establish a thatched temple to worship the Heavenly Mother, known as "Mazu Temple." This marked the beginning of the establishment of the Nan-Yao Temple. The name "Nan-Yao Temple" is derived from the "Nan" of the South Gate and the homophonic "Yao" of Waying.

The Nan-Yao Temple is the main center of worship in the Taichung, Changhua, and Nantou areas. In addition to these regions, the worship of Mazu can also be found throughout Taiwan, including Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli, which also confirms that Mazu's influence extends beyond Changhua.

When it comes to local worship centers, the cultural and martial halls are indispensable. Early on, cultural and martial halls were established. The martial halls are responsible for protecting the Mazu chariot, while cultural halls serving as the prelude to the Mazu procession. The Nan-Yao Temple is no exception. We visited the cultural hall of the Nan-Yao Temple, the Liying Society, which was originally a Nanguan music band. After its restoration, it became a lively Beiguan music band. Every year during the Pengang pilgrimage of the Nan-Yao Temple, the Liying Society still serves as the cultural hall.