Tainan Grand Mazu Temple 全臺祀典大天后宮

 

Mazu, Goddess of the Sea, is worshiped as the Heavenly Queen (called Tianhou in Mandarin) in China’s coastal areas. Out of the approximately 400 Mazu temples in Taiwan, Tainan’s Grand Mazu Temple was the first official Matsu temple ever built. the temple is a treasure trove of Taiwanese works of folk art, and a popular tourist destination you should not miss if you decide to pay Tainan a visit.

在中國沿海地區，媽祖被尊崇為海上女神，備受世人敬崇並稱之為「天后」。在台灣 400 多間媽祖廟中，大天后宮則為清代全台唯一奉旨祀典的媽祖廟。現今，大天后宮的廟宇建築是台灣民間藝術瑰寶，更是觀光客來台南不可錯過的景點。

 

The history of Tainan Grand Mazu Temple 大天后宮歷史沿革 

• The Beginning 創立初期 

During the Ming Dynasty (1426 – 1435), It is said that the statue of Mazu was brought by a eunuch from Fujian Province to Taiwan, and people built a temple called Tianfei Temple (literally, “Heavenly Princess Temple”). At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Kozinga occupied Taiwan and stayed in Tainan. He persuaded the Prince of Ningjing to renovate his home into a temple.

據傳明朝時，媽祖的神像由一名太監自中國福建帶來台灣，當時便興建天妃廟供奉媽祖。明朝末年鄭成功開臺，鄭氏奉明正朔尊禮明室，乃請南寧寧靖王朱術桂入居殿後齋房(即今聖父母廳)。

 

In 1683, the Qing empire invaded Taiwan. Learning of Taiwan's surrender, the Prince of Ningjing summoned his five concubines and informed them of his decision to take his own life. In fidelity to the king, they hanged themselves one after another. After burying his concubines (nowadays, they are worshipped in Wufei Temple, also called Temple of the Five Concubines), and making obeisance to heaven, earth, and the ancestors, the Prince of Ningjing committed suicide.

1683年，清朝為收復台灣一再發動戰爭，最後鄭氏因敗軍投降，寧靖王得知消息後便告知五位妃嬪決心殉國的意念。為表忠誠，妃嬪們相繼自縊，由寧靖王親自殯殮，將五妃之靈柩安葬於南門城外魁斗山(今臺南五妃廟址)後，爾後便結帛於樑自縊。

 

Note: The Prince of Ningjing was a descendant of the founder of the Ming Dynasty, and was one of its last remaining symbols when the Qing took power. Just before the Ming dynasty collapsed, he was invited to settle in Taiwan, which still recognized the legitimacy of the Ming.

補充: 南寧寧靖王為明朝王室後裔，在明朝滅亡時，鄭成功開臺，因主張反清復明，便恭迎明朝最後的正統王室，即寧靖王朱術桂來臺。

 

• During the Qing Dynasty 清朝時期 

After the Qing General Shih Lang occupied Taiwan, he stationed himself in the Prince of Ningjing’s mansion. Had experienced the miracle that Mazu displayed, Shih Lang presented the petition to Emperor Kang Xi and rename the temple as “Grand Mazu Temple”. Therefore, Grand Mazu is the first official Mazu temple that Qing government approved. In spring of 1818, the Tainan Grand Mazu Temple was badly damaged in a fire, and a three-phase restoration was implemented. This particular effort was the largest, and the most elaborate restoration in the history of the temple.

 

自施琅入臺後，並駐守於寧靖王府邸。據傳當時府中只有一座井，經施琅禱神後，井水噴湧不盡，足供大軍使用，施琅感受其神蹟，並奏請康熙皇帝敕封天后，改制官廟，故為全臺最早官建媽祖廟。嘉慶年間(1818年)，臺南大天后宮遭受嚴重的祝融之災，損失慘重，此次整修是大天后宮歷經最大規模、最耗工的ㄧ次整修，前後共有三階段的修復工程，才逐漸完成現今的建築樣貌。

       

• Up to the Present 現今 

Although the Tainan Grand Mazu Temple building has been renovated several times, it has retained the same fundamental architectural features since the third restoration effort in the early nineteenth century. The palace hall boasts the tall roof truss. Nowadays, Tainan Grand Mazu Temple has been listed as a historic site of the highest category in Taiwan and also one of Hundreds of Religious Site in Taiwan.

天后宮的建築即便經歷過多次整修，至今保留的建築風貌仍為19世紀初第三次整修時留下的建築特色，例如:殿裡特別挑高的上方的框架梁。現今，臺南天后宮也被認定為臺灣國定古蹟及宗教百景之一。

 

Introduction of Deity Statues in the Temple 廟內神祇簡介

In the main palace 正殿 

• Mazu: this statue is about four meters tall. She wears a crown with nine beaded tassels and a splendid royal gown. Her eyelids droop slightly as she overlooks all living beings with a solemn but benign expression. Her golden face looks peaceful and regal.

          神像為四米高，頭戴九串珠冠且身著龍袍，居殿堂之上；柳眉鳳眼、櫻唇纖手；關愛的眼神環視蒼生，如沐春風。

 

• The deities Qien-li-yen (“All-seeing”) and Shun-fuon-er (“All-hearing”) are the two guardians of the Goddess Matsu. In folklore, the two were monsters that terrorized the village of Meijhou in China, each with extraordinary abilities of seeing and hearing. Matsu subdued them, thereafter using them as her guards. Together they patrol the coast, and offer protection to seafarers and fishermen.                            為媽祖的護衛。在民俗傳說中，千里眼與順風耳是居住在媚洲(媽祖故鄉)的兩隻怪物。據說千里眼可目測千里以外的事物；順風耳則可耳判八方。由於兩隻怪物騷擾居民多時，媽祖便施以法力收服他們做為手下部將，一同守護沿海境內及漁民。

 

• Dragon Kings of the Four Seas (at the left side of the statues of Matsu as you standing before the temple): they are the Gods of the Sea and also the Gods of the Rain. In folklore, the four Dragon Kings include the East, West, South and North Dragon King. The statues shown here include the four Dragon Kings, two generals and four servants.

         四海龍王為海中之神，又為雨神。傳說四海龍王包括了東海龍王、西海龍王、南海龍王及北海龍王；臺南天后宮供奉的便是此四尊龍王、兩名部將及四名侍從。

 

• Honorable Kings of the Water Immortals (at the right side of the statues of Matsu as you standing before the temple): these are water-related deities that guard the safety of ships. The five statues here are five Chinese historical figures, including Da Yu(大禹), who is noted for his great accomplishments in regulating watercourses. Cyu Yuan(屈原), a patriotic poet who killed himself by jumping into a river, Wu Zih-Syu(伍子胥), whose body was abandoned in a river, Siang Yu(項羽), who committed suicide in a river, and Han Ao (寒澆), who had great strength and could move a boat on land.

水仙尊王，正如同其名，是與海域相關的神祇，主要保護境內漁民安全。水仙尊王為五名中國古代歷史人物，包含大禹、愛國詩人屈原、伍子胥、項羽及寒澆。

 

• The Sanguan Dadi (“Emperors of the Three Realms” – Heaven, Earth and Water) statues are enshrined at the back of the Main Palace. They are the gods of Heaven, Earth and Water. It is said that the Emperor of Heaven bestows fortune, that of Earth bestows reprieve for misdeeds and that of Water solves difficulties.

三官大帝: 此尊神像供奉於主殿後方。三官大帝分別為天官、地官、水官三尊神祇，分別掌管三界—天界、地界、水界。據說天官掌管人的命運；地官掌管世人的功過；而化解世間的紛爭，則為水官的主要職掌。

 

In the Sacred Parents Hall 聖父母廳

This hall initially was Prince of Ningjing’s chamber. Prince of Ningjing’s five concubines hanged themselves here from the crossbeam in the Main Palace. Deities enshrined here currently include the Prince of Ningjing, Matsu’s Father, Matsu’s Mother and others with merits and virtues.

 

此廳原為寧靖王的故居，而寧靖王的五位妃嬪曾於此處的上樑自縊。目前此廳神龕供奉的是寧靖王、媽祖的父母以及歷任的住持的神位。

 

• God of Matchmaking: this deity matches couples in marriage by facilitating romantic bonds. It is one of the four famous marriage deities in Tainan (the other three are located in Dianwu Temple, Guanyin Temple and Chongcing Temple).(其它三尊供奉於祀典武廟、大觀音亭及重慶寺)。
• Fu De Jheng Shen (Village Deity/"Lord of the Soil and the Ground"): this god is in charge of a small regional area. Taiwanese people believe that one must have land before he has any wealth; therefore, people call this deity the “Land God” or “Fu De Deity.”

          福德正神(土地公) 為村里的守護神。臺灣人的傳統觀念認為「有土斯有財」，因此人們更加重視 土地之神，即土地公 。

• Lady Jhushan (Goddess of Childbirth): this goddess is in charge of childbirth; she is the protectress of expectant mothers, women in labor and infants.

          註生娘娘掌管婦女懷孕、生子，據說註生娘娘會守護在待產的婦女以及剛出生的嬰兒身旁。

 

Guanyin Palace (the left rear palace of main palace) 觀音殿 

After General Shih Lang came to Taiwan and turned the mansion into Tianhou Temple, the Guanyin statue was enshrined in this military supervision office, which since then has been called “Guanyin Palace.” The statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara or “Goddess of Mercy”) is enshrined in the center, its originally golden face has been blackened over time by incense smoke. The two statues reflect the preferred features of young Chinese boys and girls, and they are located in front of Guanyin. The boy named Shancai has a high forehead, big eyes and full lips, and with palms held together as if in prayer. The girl named Longnu has arched eyebrows, beautiful eyes and hair in a bun, holding an alms bowl in her hands, looking cherubic and graceful.

自清朝時期，施琅攻臺並奏請康熙冊封天后宮後，觀音的神像便供奉在天后宮旁的側廳(當時為官廳)，故稱之為觀音殿。進入觀音殿後，坐落中間的神像正是觀世音菩薩，過去因大量的香客駐足祭拜，導致線香燻黑了菩薩原本金黃色的臉龐。而在觀世音菩薩前的木像也生動刻劃出古代善男信女的樣貌，名為善財的童子有著高額頭、大眼睛、豐滿的嘴唇，且雙手合掌彷彿正在向神祝禱；名為龍女的女童則有高挑的眉毛、杏眼及圓髻，且手持衣缽，看起來天真又優雅。

 

Sanbao Palace (the left front palace of main palace) 三寶殿

    Sanbao Palace was built during the renovation of 1765.  In 1971, the original official hall was transformed into a temple hall to worship the Sanbao Buddhas. There are two guardian statues, Weitou Guardian and Chelan Guardian, standing in front of the Sanbao Buddhas. The Sanbao Buddhas are Amitabha Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha and Bhaisaijya Buddha (the Medicine Buddha). Shakyamuni Buddha is the founder of Buddhism; he comprehends all sufferings in the world and combats it with compassion. Amitabha Buddha and the Medicine Buddha give people hope for the afterlife and strength to fight illness, respectively.

1765年時，正值天后宮翻修時興建此處；於1971年間，此殿由原來清朝政府的官廳正式轉用為三寶殿，並供奉佛教三寶。此殿在三寶佛的前方有兩尊佛教守護神--韋陀與伽藍，而佛教三寶佛為「阿彌陀佛」、「釋迦牟尼佛」及「藥師佛」。釋迦牟尼佛為佛教創始人，他了悟世間疾苦並願用慈悲的心度化眾生。阿彌陀佛掌管人生後的世界；藥師佛則保佑信眾身體健康。

 

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