Uniting Hearts and Inheriting Culture: Houlong Shanbian Mazu Temple Holds Groundbreaking and Memorial Ceremony

The Houlong Shanbian Mazu Temple in Miaoli County held its long-anticipated temple construction groundbreaking and memorial document ceremony on July 26. Deputy County Magistrate Chi Lili led incense offerings to pray for a smooth construction process and performed a golden scissors ribbon-cutting to symbolize the official start of the project. This moment marks a pivotal chapter in the religious development of the Shanbian community, with hopes that the future Shanbian Mazu Temple will not only serve as a central place of worship but also become a sacred space that unites hearts and preserves cultural heritage—where every visitor can feel the compassion, gratitude, and sense of homecoming that Mazu embodies.

Each year, the Shanbian Mazu joins the Baishatun Gongtian Temple’s Mazu in a joint pilgrimage to the Beigang Chaotian Temple, walking the entire route on foot. The timing, route, and resting places are determined entirely by divine will. In recent years, the pilgrimage has drawn over 100,000 participants, making it one of Taiwan’s most significant religious events. Devotees of both Shanbian and Baishatun Mazu span across Taiwan and overseas communities.

The temple construction project has been in preparation for many years. This year, seven excavators representing the colors of the rainbow were deployed to commence construction, accompanied by two grand events: 'A Thousand People Repairing the Zhuangyuan Stone Weir' and 'A Thousand People Submitting Memorial Documents.' The ceremony gathered 400 sacred statues of Mazu and over ten thousand devotees.

On July 26, Deputy County Magistrate Chi Lili, Council Speaker Li Wenbin, Shanbian Mazu Temple Chairman Chen Wenming, Vice Chairman Liu Jianfeng, Beigang Chaotian Temple Chairman Tsai Yongde, representatives from over a hundred affiliated temples, and local elders attended the ceremony. They offered incense prayers for the project’s success and performed the ribbon-cutting to officially launch the temple construction.

Deputy Magistrate Chi Lili stated that the reverence for Shanbian Mazu stems not only from her compassionate protection but also from the deep connection the faith shares with the village and every family. 'What we are breaking ground on today is not just a temple building, but the shared aspiration of generations of Shanbian people,' she said. She expressed heartfelt respect to all past committee members, staff, volunteers, and devotees who have long supported the temple’s construction. 'What you have accomplished is not merely fundraising, but heart-raising. What we are gathering today is not just donations, but goodwill. What we are achieving is not just the beginning of a temple, but a collective vow to safeguard local faith.' She prayed for the Heavenly Holy Mother’s divine light to shine upon all, blessing the land with harmony, peace, and prosperity, and wished all supporters continued growth in fortune and wisdom, family safety, and fulfillment of their wishes.