Wuqi Chaoyuan Temple

The architectural history of Wuqi Chaoyuan Temple can be traced back over 150 years. Originally, the temple was not located at its current site; it was relocated to its present address at No. 140 Wuqi Road in 1864. In the past, a salt official reverently brought a wooden Mazu statue from the Ascension Cave of Meizhou Tianhou Temple. This statue is known as 'Kaiki Mazu' (Founding Mazu). According to research, 'Kaiki Mazu' is one of the earliest Mazu statues in Taiwan, boasting a history of 323 years to date. It is currently housed in Wuqi Chaoyuan Temple. The 'Wuqi Mazu worship' commonly referred to by the local people of Wuqi simply means visiting Wuqi Chaoyuan Temple for worship. However, beyond thanking Mazu for blessings and praying for peace, visitors to Chaoyuan Temple can also carefully observe the stone tablets on the walls and the temple's beams and pillars, many of which feature inscriptions by contemporary celebrities or works by literati and refined scholars. Chaoyuan Temple hosts festive activities annually for occasions such as the Lunar New Year, Lantern Festival, and Vesak (Buddha's Birthday). It also irregularly organizes processions for peace and blessings, and the public is encouraged to participate.