Jenlan Temple

Jenlan Temple is located in Taichung County's Dajia Township. It is said that the temple was built in 1730 by immigrants from Meizhou County in Mainland China's Fujian Province. As years went by, the temple was extended several times. Today, the statue of Matzu in Jenlan Temple is worshipped by tens of thousands of followers from all over Taiwan.

Every year, at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, a religious pilgrimage embarks from Jenlan Temple. Hundreds of Matzu believers follow the pilgrimage, and there are many celebrations to welcome the statue of the goddess in every temple along the route. Before the pilgrimage begins, town people send representatives to the main Matzu temple in Fujian's Meizhou County to bring back the holy spirit. The ritual has a history of more than three hundred years and is often a topic for academic and media attention.

Jenlan Temple has several palaces, rooms and pavilions. All buildings are decorated with beautifully detailed woodcarvings of historical and religious figures, flowers, birds and animals. There are two historically valuable plaques that were written by two Qing emperors.

Here is an interesting article to read:

• Activities honor "Heavenly Mother" (April 14, 2006)
• Annual Matsu procession begins (March 27, 2006)
• "Matsu is everywhere" for festival (March 14, 2006)
• Goddess of the Sea pilgrimage launched (September 23, 2005)