Sihcao Dajhong Temple is most famous as the original seat of worship of Chen You (陳酉), the only native-born Taiwanese to be deified at the command of an emperor of China. 

 

Early History
The actual origins of the temple are lost to history. The first known mention in the Chinese written record occurs in 1700, when the Kangsi Emperor wrote a directive ordering the rebuilding of the temple. However, a Dutch map from the 17th century shows a temple at the location, and it is quite possible that a temple of some sort existed even before that time. 
Sihcao Dajhong Temple is located on what used to be Beishanwei Island, which straddled Tainan's Luerhmen and Anping Harbors before the area silted in. Initially inhabited by the Pingpu tribe, this strategic location was later occupied by the Dutch, who were finally ousted by Ming Dynasty General Koxinga in 1661-1662.

In its earlier years, the temple rose to prominence as a site to bury and pay respects to Chinese soldiers killed in the war between Koxinga and the Dutch as well as to people who had drowned or been lost at sea.  The name of the temple, which loosely translates to the Temple of the People, reflects this early history. 

 

Chen You, the Commander-in-Chief of the Gods' Forces
Later, during theCing Dynasty, the temple took on even greater significance as the center of worship of Chen You, the "Great General." Chen You started life as a porter in Tainan. He was known for his extraordinary strength; legend has it that when the ship of a Cing official was stranded on shore, he single-handedly pushed the boat into the water when an entire group of people had been unable to do so. 

Later, serving in the Cing military, Chen was instrumental in putting down the short-lived 1721 rebellion against Cing rule led by Jhu Yi-Guei. As time passed, his loyalty and scrupulous honesty in his administration of military affairs led to him being promoted to the highest-ranked Taiwanese officer in the Cing dynasty. Unfortunately, his enemies carried out a whisper campaign against him in an attempt to cause him to lose favor with the emperor. 

With his honor impugned, Chen committed suicide by drowning. According to reports, his body floated across the shallow lagoon to the island. When the emperor received the news, he decreed that Chen should be deified and honored with the title Commander-in-Chief of the Gods’ Forces, with Sicao Dazhong Temple as his seat of worship. Over the years, worship of the Great General has spread, and his effigies have been enshrined in over three hundred temples in Taiwan and elsewhere.

The Temple as a Center of Local Worship
Sihcao Dajhong Temple is the main temple of Tainan's Taijiang area. The temple has undergone several enlargements and renovations, and many other gods have been enshrined in the temple over the years, including Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy), Mazu (the Goddess of the Sea), Jhu Sheng Niang Niang (the Goddess of Childbirth), Lady Linshuei, and Fu DeJheng Shen (Village Deity). Local people come here to pray and seek direction for their careers, education, marriages, childbearing, and more.

 

Nearby Points of Interest
In 1917, the Japanese, who occupied Taiwan at the time, started up a salt industry which is still in operation today. The traditional-style salt fields are a beautiful sight to see. 

The nearby Sihcao Wetlands were set aside by the Tainan City government in 1994 for the preservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill and other endangered migratory and local wetlands species. Visitors can enjoy a quiet boat ride down the Sihcao Tunnel, an old canal roofed over by mangroves, or a longer boat trip on the lake and through the wetlands area. The wetlands preserve is only a short walk from the temple.

The history of the Luerhmen Tianhou Temple歷史沿革

The goddess Mazu, to whom Luerhmen Tianhou Temple is dedicated, is credited with aiding the Ming loyalist admiral Zheng Cheng-kung (also known as Koxinga) to drive the Dutch from Taiwan in 1661. To show his gratitude to Matsu, Koxinga constructed a temple to her at Baisanwei, which turned out to be the center for religion and civic culture.

鹿耳門天后宮祭祀的媽祖婆，在西元1661年間，因協助明朝將領鄭成功(國姓爺)登陸北汕(線)尾嶼，踏勘營地，成功驅趕荷蘭人。為感念媽祖顯靈，鄭成功即在此建立廟宇，供軍民膜拜，往後便成為居民的信仰中心。

 

In 1871, there was a flood, washing away the temple, but fortunately, the golden statue of Mazu was saved by several villagers. The deity was worshipped in their homes until the temple could be rebuilt. Following Taiwan Retrocession in 1946, the Tianhou Temple was rebuilt again, this time with donations from villagers. Work was completed at the beginning of 1947 when the worship of the golden image of Mazu resumed in the temple.

西元1871年，因洪水暴發危及廟宇，所幸村民在千鈞一髮之際，救出媽祖神尊；爾後則輪流供奉於各爐主家的廳堂。西元1946年，村民決定籌資重建天后宮，並於1947年廟宇落成，村民重新迎媽祖金身入廟安座。

 

In 1993, the Cultural and Educational Foundation for the Tianhou Temple at Luerhmen was established to publish works about local culture. A literature room was set up to collect relics and preserve them, and for research to be carried out. Its sole purpose is to help spread the Mazu faith to inspire people to follow the goddess’s fine example, so that peace and happiness is ensured among the mortals.

為推廣廟宇文化教育等公益活動，西元1993年成立鹿耳門天后宮文教公益基金會，並同時設置藝文活動展示館，展出在地文物並鼓勵更多文史學術研究。基金會設立宗旨是為了宣揚媽祖信仰，以媽祖為典範吸引更多信眾追隨媽祖行善，讓和平與歡樂充滿人世間。

 

Luerhman Tianhou Temple is noted for its wide array of religious activities and festivals held every year. If you are a history buff, and one who enjoys architectural studies, this temple is the perfect destination for you!

鹿耳門天后宮每年舉辦許多宗教節慶活動。若你是文史愛好者或對建築充滿熱情的人，鹿耳門天后宮會是你絕佳的選擇。

 

The story of Mazu 媽祖的故事 

The goddess Mazu was a historical person named Lin Mo Niang (960–987 A.D.). She was born in Meijhou in Fujian Province. In her short but remarkable life, she had become proficient in all the Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist classical literature, was adept at astronomy and an expert in medicine. She was loved and revered for her many good deeds, curing countless people, driving away evil spirits, and saving people from drought. After her death, she often appeared at sea to rescue sailors from wrecks, and would protect ambassadors traveling overseas.

在歷史上，媽祖真有其人，其名林默娘，出生於福建湄洲島。她的一生雖短暫卻偉大，除了熟讀儒家、道教、以及佛教經典，精通天文學與醫學外，默娘生前便扶危濟困，治癒百姓疾病、驅逐惡靈，甚至拯救百姓免於旱災之苦，因而受百姓愛戴。在默娘逝世後，據說在海象險惡時，祂便會出現拯救船員。