Brief introduction of Tianjin Tianhou Palace

Tianhou Palace, commonly known as "Niangniang Palace", is located outside the east gate of the old city of Tianjin, on the west bank of Sanchahekou and on the street of ancient culture. Founded in the first year of Taiding in Yuan Dynasty (1326) and rebuilt in the first year of Yongle in Ming Dynasty (1403), it is the oldest existing building in Tianjin.

Like the "Mazu Tempel" in China, Fujian, Taiwan Province Province and other Southeast Asian countries, this temple is dedicated to a maritime protector, Lin Moniang, who was born in Putian County, Fujian Province in the Song Dynasty. Legend has it that she was very clever since she was a child. /kloc-at the age of 0/5, she is proficient in medicine and determined to do good and help others all her life. She is familiar with water and often crosses the sea to help boatmen and fishermen in distress; She can also observe the changes of the wind and cloud, predict the weather, tell the boatmen whether they can sail, and protect the safety of fishing boats and merchant ships. After her death, she was regarded as a god, set up a shrine to worship and was honored as Mazu. Later, it was sealed by the imperial courts of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, and Tian Fei and Tianhou joined the sacrificial ceremony, becoming the sea gods that people believed in.

Tianhou Palace faces the linhai River in the west, with a building area of 2,500 square meters. There are existing mountain gates, archways, bell and drum towers, anterooms, halls, sutra depository and temples. In the Hall of Ursa Major, the statue of Tianhou is 2.7 meters high, wearing Xia Xia and Feng Guan. Four maids hold seals, bottles and fans on both sides, and a set of armor is also displayed on both sides of the hall. There are two banners with a height of more than 20 meters hanging in front of the mountain gate, which are cultural relics left in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The banner is embroidered with the words: "Golden Gate Art attracts 104 people to welcome the Spring Festival, and the waves are abundant and prosperous."

As Tianjin has always been a shipping hub, the fragrance of "Tianhou Palace" is also very strong. There are squares and theaters in front of the palace. In the past, there were often flowers to reward God's performances. It is said that in the early years of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi toured Tianjin, inspected the Tianhou Palace, and appreciated the performance of the flower show very much, so he gave it the national flag. Since then, the folk flower show in Tianhou Palace has become the "Emperor's Day". Taking the birthday of the Queen on March 23rd of the lunar calendar as the main theme, the Royal Society holds a meeting to welcome the gods every year. French drums, lions, China banners, Daqu, flower drums and other performances walked through the streets, with the sound of gongs and drums and cheers one after another. According to "Tianjin Imperial Examination Record", "stay up all night until midnight. When the candle goes out and the fragrance disappears, I don't know that the East is white. 」

At present, there is a Tianjin Folk Museum in Tianhou Palace, which is displayed in the wing rooms on both sides of the temple. It introduces the rise and changes of Tianjin City, Tianhou Palace and imperial society, and displays Tianjin city bricks in the Ming Dynasty, water transport models in the Qing Dynasty and various folk shapes (wedding ceremonies, costumes, etc.). ), water machine and other Qing Dynasty cultural relics.

Tianhou Palace is not only located along the coast, but also in the mainland, such as zhenyuan county in Guizhou and Zhijiang in Hunan.