Taitung Tianhou Temple
Main Deities
About
Every Lantern Festival, the streets of Taitung put on an astonishing scene: a bare-chested man stands on a palanquin while worshippers hurl strings of firecrackers at him. This is 'Bombing Master Handan', spoken of in the same breath as 'the sky lanterns of the north and the beehive fireworks of the south'. Its home is Taitung Tianhou Temple, dedicated to Mazu (the Empress of Heaven) and the only official temple in eastern Taiwan during the Qing dynasty. The temple keeps the plaque 'Numinous Aid in Pacifying the Rebels' presented by Admiral Zhang Zhaolian, and it was registered as a historic building in 2003. Each year its Lantern Festival 'procession of the gods' and Bombing Master Handan draw thousands upon thousands of people, setting the faith of the 'back mountain' region ablaze.
History
Taitung Tianhou Temple began with the putting down of an uprising. In 1889, the 15th year of the Guangxu reign, Admiral Zhang Zhaolian, grateful to Mazu for protecting him as he quelled a local revolt, proposed building a temple to give thanks. The Guangxu Emperor bestowed a plaque reading 'Numinous, Radiant, Sincere and Protecting', so the temple held the standing of an official temple from the very start. In 1930 an earthquake cracked the building, and the temple was relocated; the new temple on the present site was completed in 1933 and renovated many times into its current form. From a Qing official temple to today's Lantern Festival celebrations, Taitung Tianhou Temple is not only a center of faith but a witness to the story of how Taitung was settled.
Taitung Tianhou Temple
Taitung City, Taitung County
Visitor Info
Address
No. 222, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd, Taitung City, Taitung County
Region
Taitung City, Taitung County
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- When to Go
- The procession of the gods and Bombing Master Handan at the Lantern Festival (lunar 1/15) are the liveliest events, drawing thousands upon thousands of people every year.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps