Xiamen | Chaozong Temple

Address: Intersection of Minzu Road and University Road, Siming District, Xiamen Chaozong Temple is located at the intersection of Minzu Road and University Road and is dedicated to the 'Heavenly Holy Mother.' Historically known as 'Yusha Slope,' during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty, the court designated the only ferry to Taiwan at the pier in front of Chaozong Temple. Thus, the 'Mazu' of Chaozong Temple became a spiritual comfort for officials, merchants, and the public traveling to Taiwan. Chaozong Temple currently enshrines three Mazu statues: the Ancestral Mazu, the Touring Mazu, and the Ancestral Worship Mazu. The 'Ancestral Mazu' is the oldest existing Mazu statue in Chaozong Temple. The 'Touring Mazu' was carved during the reconstruction of Chaozong Temple and is taken out during 'sea patrols' or 'peace patrols.' The 'Ancestral Worship Mazu' was also sculpted during the reconstruction of Chaozong Temple. It is a soft-bodied, seated statue placed in the main hall shrine of Chaozong Temple.