Lugang Tienho Temple

The Tienho Temple in Lugang Township in central Taiwan's Changhua County is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Matsu (or Matzu), the Goddess of the Sea. The temple was first built during the Qing dynasty. It was renovated in 1936 and expanded to the grand scale seen today.

The statue of Matsu in the Tienho Temple was imported from Meizhou Township in China's Fujian Province. The statue's face has turned black due to the smoke from all the incense burned throughout the years, so Matsu is also called the Black-Faced Goddess.

The Tienho Temple features many elegant murals and paintings. In front of the temple is the dragon pond in a small garden. In the back of the temple, there is a museum that introduces the life of Matsu, as well as the role the deity has played in Taiwanese and Chinese societies.

Every year, on Matsu's birthday, which falls on the 23rd of the third lunar month, great celebrations take place in the Tienho Temple. More than one million local and international visitors and religious followers come here to pray for a safe and prosperous life.