Taiwan Religious Culture Map

The construction of Lukang's Xinzu Temple was intrinsically related to the Lin Shuang-wen Rebellion, which occurred in the 51st year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing era (1786 CE). As the rebellion escalated, the Qing government dispatched General Fuk'anggan (1754-1796 CE), who sailed to Taiwan from Chongwu Harbor in Hui'an County, Quanzhou Prefecture, landing in Lukang. After the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion, the government decided to build a temple dedicated to Matzu in a spacious lot in Lukang. Construction was mostly funded by the government, supplemented by donations from Rimao Hang (a former company in Lukang). The temple's inauguration ceremony to welcome the deities with incense offerings was held in the 53rd year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1788 CE). Since Lukang already had a temple dedicated to Matzu, Tianhou Temple, this new temple was called New Matzu Temple, or Xinzu Temple or Xin Temple for short. ""Xinzu Temple"" became the most prevalent name for the temple, persisting to this day. The temple we see today was shaped by renovation projects done in 1955 and 1974 CE. From front to back, the temple layout consists of a shanmen (also known as the Gate of Three Liberations, the most important gate of a Chinese Chan Buddhist temple), courtyard, baiting (worship pavilion), and the main hall. On the left of the courtyard stands a two-story concrete building known as Shengde Building, while the right has a joss paper furnace and an inscribed stone slab.