Penghu Tianhou Temple. For the people of the sea, Mazu, the guardian deity of the sea, is naturally an important spiritual solace. For the people of the sea, Mazu, the guardian deity of the sea, is naturally an important spiritual solace. Penghu Tianhou Temple is the earliest Mazu temple established in Taiwan and is designated as a "National Historic Site." Early fishermen from the coastal areas of Fujian, China, would enshrine Mazu on their boats for protection and safe voyages and operations. Later, after settling in Penghu, they moved the worship ashore. Time flies, and for over 400 years, it has protected the residents of Penghu County. It was then called "Niang Gong," "Niang Niang Gong," "Niang Ma Gong," "Ma Niang Gong," "Mazu Gong," and so on. Even the ferry crossing was called "Mazu Gong," later shortened to "Magong." Because "Mazu Gong" and "Magong" are homophones in Japanese, and "Magong" has fewer strokes and is easy to identify, the Japanese marked Magong on their military maps even before occupying Taiwan and Penghu. After the Japanese occupied Taiwan, they immediately established the Magong Naval Base in Penghu in 1901, but the administrative area still retained the Qing Dynasty name "Magong Ao." It was not until 1920 that "Magong Ao" was changed to "Magong Street," officially becoming the origin of the place name Magong. For the people of the sea, Mazu, the guardian deity of the sea, is naturally an important spiritual solace. Penghu Tianhou Temple is the earliest Mazu temple established in Taiwan and is designated as a "National Historic Site." Early fishermen from the coastal areas of Fujian, China, would enshrine Mazu on their boats for protection and safe voyages and operations.
Address: 澎湖縣馬公市正義街1號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Penghu