In the past, when Deer Harbor was a prosperous port town, many sailors used to stop by Tianhou Temple, which is still visited by many believers today

People joining hands at Lukang Mazu Temple
People joining hands at Lukang Mazu Temple

At the end of a quiet street in Lukang, the graceful curve of a traditional roof emerged into view—it was the revered Lukang Tianhou Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. Beneath its ornately decorated eaves hung red banners, and from the large incense burner, wisps of smoke drifted upward, gently fading into the sky.

As its name suggests, this temple honors Mazu, the guardian deity of the sea. Back when Lukang flourished as a port town, countless sailors passed through, always stopping here before setting out across the often-stormy Taiwan Strait. They would offer prayers, hoping for a safe journey—an act so deeply embedded in daily life it became ritual.

That tradition lives on. When I visited, an elderly man stood silently with hands clasped in prayer. It felt like an ordinary moment, yet behind it lay generations of belief—an unbroken thread stretching quietly through time.

Lukang Mazu Temple on Google Map
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日本語
Jun 2025 PEOPLE TAIWAN

PHOTO DATA

No

12882

Shooting Date

Dec 2024

Posted On

June 28, 2025

Place

Lukang, Taiwan

Genre

Street Photography

Camera

SONY ALPHA 7R V

Lens

ZEISS BATIS 2/40 CF

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