Changhua Nanyao Temple
Main Deities
About
A Mazu temple that blends Japanese, Greek, and Baroque styles: that is the most striking sight at Changhua Nanyao Temple in Changhua City. Dedicated to Mazu (the Heavenly Holy Mother) and popularly known as 'Changhua Mazu,' Nanyao Temple has a main hall in the traditional southern Fujian style, while its rear hall, the Guanyin Hall, is strongly shaped by Western architecture. Such an East-meets-West mix is extremely rare among Taiwanese temples, and its artistic value is exceptional. Nanyao Temple also has ten Mazu associations, and its annual Bengang pilgrimage has a long history, preserving old rites such as the 'changing of the dragon robe.' It is a living fossil of Taiwan's pilgrimage culture.
History
The story begins with an incense pouch. Tradition says that during the Qing Yongzheng reign, a potter named Yang Qian carried a Mazu incense pouch with him for people to pray to. Its miracles were so striking that more and more believers gathered, until in 1738, the third year of the Qianlong reign, Nanyao Temple was built. The Changhua County Gazetteer of the Daoguang reign already records Nanyao Temple making its yearly pilgrimage to Bengang. From then on, the temple's devotee organizations, the 'Mazu associations,' kept growing, and their influence spread across central Taiwan. From one small incense pouch to ten Mazu associations, Nanyao Temple shows how Taiwan's pilgrimage culture grew out of folk belief into a force that binds a community together.
Changhua Nanyao Temple
Changhua City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 43, Nanyao Rd, Changhua City
Region
Changhua City
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 6:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- When to Go
- The annual Bengang pilgrimage is a major tradition at Nanyao Temple; Mazu's birthday on lunar 3/23 is also the most important day for a Mazu temple.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps