 |
 |
Founding Year : 1746
God Worshipped : Tien-shang Shen-mu(Birth date : March 23)
Religion : Popular belief
Relic Classification : Not yet classified
Location : 51, Cheng-tu Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei
Phone : (02) 23310421
|
|
|
|
|
"Hsin-shing Kong" built in 1746 by a wealthy merchant, was in Moun-gar, Taipei. Hsin-shing Kong was originally situated at Shi-yuan Road, Section 1 of the Chang-sha Street, Section 2 and Kwei-yang Street, Section 2. This Shi-yuan Road, Section 1, was originally called "Hsin-shing Kong Street," in the Ching dynasty. In 1943 due to the widening project of the Shi-yuan Road, the Temple was demolished, and the Matsu statue that the Hsin-shing Kong worshipped was temporarily placed in the rear hall of the Lungshan Shih. On June 1,1948, Matsu statue was moved out from Lungshan Shih by Her followers and placed in "Hong-fa Shih" ,which was located in the intersection of the Cheng-tu Road and Hsining South Road. In 1952,"Hong-fa Shih" was renamed as "Taiwan Provincial Tien-hou Kong" and later as "Taipei Tien-hou Kong." Because it is now located in Taipei's busy Hsimengding area, the Temple wins a reputation as a temple built on Taiwan's highest land price.
Like Chi-tien Kong, Tien-hou Kong belongs to Matsu Miao, which worships Tien-shang Shen-mu. Born on March 23, A.D.960, Tien-shang Shen-mu was originally named Lin Mo. At the age 27, A.D.987,she became a goddess. Since childhood, Lin Mo in addition to piously studying Buddhist sutras, she was also good in magic. Matsu also had the ability to remove her inner strength while closing her eyes to rescue the victims in the shipwrecking. For this reason, the seafaring fishermen, the merchant ships and the ocean liners, and immigrants crossing the seas_all regard Matsu as the goddess who protects them on the high seas. In front of the statue of Matsu, goddess of the sea, there must be two generals: One is called "Suen-feng-ar" (a general in Chinese mythology whose ears can hear sound miles away), and the other is "Chien-li-yen" (whose eyesight can reach heaven).
|
|
 |
In the main entrance of the Temple, beside a dragon there stands a big bell made in 1792 in Wu-shi County, Chiangsu Province .On the bell were carved such words as"Moun-gar Hsin-shing Kong," etc. The engraving testifies to the fact that the Temple since its founding in the Ching dynasty has been called "Tien-hou Kong." Beside the tiger on the Temple's main entrance there is a "Pa-hsien Hsiang-lu"(meaning on the incense burner are engraving depicting the Eight Immortals) made in l8 by a mainlander.
Presently the Temple still keeps the ornately carved stone Buddha statue left by "Hong-fa Shih" which belonged to the Japanese esoteric sect, introduced to Taiwan in l896. Among the invaluable plaques still kept in the Temple are one contributed by Emperor Kuang-hsu of the Ching dynasty; one by Sun Keh , Dr. Sun Yat-sen's son; one by Huang Kuo-su, former President of the Legislative yuan;General Ho Yin-chin; and Tung Chi-jui , former Taipei mayor. |
|
|
|
|
