Lukang Shingzu Temple (鹿港新祖宮) is the only Mazu Temple in Taiwan built by empire. It was completed in 1788 when China was under Qianlong Emperor’s rule. Therefore, the left guard, Clairvoyant God, and right guard, Clairaudient God*, beside Mazu wear official robes. It is quite different than regular guardians who expose chest and barefoot.
Official administrator came to Lukang Shingzu Temple for worship on every 1st and 15th lunar month during Qing Dynasty. Once reaching the front gate of the temple, official administrator had to dismount from horse and perform the great kowtow ritual (“three kneelings and nine kowtows**”, which involves kneeling from a standing position three times, and each time, performing the kowtow three times while kneeling). On these dates, folk were not allowed to get in. Until now, there is still a dismount tablet (下馬碑 or also called Xiamabei, which requires riders to dismount from horse) in front of the gate.
The most severe rebellion, started with the formation of anti-Qing secret societies, happened in Taiwan during Qing Dynasty in 1786. The empire sent a general with his soldiers to suppress the rebellion. On the sea, they encountered typhoon and most of the soldiers died in this incident. The general asked Mazu to protect them to reach Taiwan safely. Afterward, the sea was calm, the army landed on Lukang, and the general complete the mission. In order to thank Mazu, the general asked Qianlong Emperor to fund the Mazu Temple. In case of confusion with the Lukang Mazu Temple built in 1725, people named this Mazu temple as Shingzu Temple.
* Clairvoyant God and Clairaudient God are two guards beside Mazu. They help Mazu to protect boats, fishers, and anyone on the sea. One has clear vision that he can gain information about an object, person, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses. The other one has extra-sensory perception wherein a person acquires information by paranormal auditory means. Clairaudience may refer not to actual perception of sound, but may instead indicate impressions of the “inner mental ear”.
** Kowtow, which is borrowed from Mandarin Chinese, is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to have one’s head touching the ground.
