【Introduction】
The Beigang Chao-tien Temple is widely known as the Matsu Temple or Temple of the Heavenly Goddess, revering Matsu as the host deity. It was said that back in the 33rd year of Emperor Kangxi (1694), a Buddhist monk of the Linji (Renzai) school derived from the Chan Buddhism, Shubi, travelled to Bengang carrying a Matsu statue. The locals rented a house to enshrine the goddess statue and asked him to settle in Bengang. In the 39th year of Emperor Kangxi (1700), local residents began to raise funds in order to build a temple. Later in the 40th year of Emperor Qianlong (1775), the building was renovated into a three-hall temple. The current dragon stone columns of the third hall, where Guanyin is worshipped, have been preserved until this day. In the 17th year of Emperor Daoguang (1837), the temple underwent another reconstruction. Upon completion, the naval commander of Fujien, Wang Delu, donated a plaque. The merchant of Xin-de-tai-hao (a company) from the trade guild of Quanzhou also donated a decorative stone sculpture featuring two dragons in pursuit of a pearl, which was laid at the center of the main-hall stairway. The two objects are of historical significance and have been passed down through generations. In the 5th Year of Emperor Xianfung (1855), a rear hall was added to enshrine the the parents, brothers and sisters of Matsu. The whole temple then became an elongated four-hall building. In the 38th year of Emperor Meiji (1905), a strong earthquake struck Chiayi. The temple was destroyed. The main hall suffered serious damage and a master carpenter, Chen Yingbin, was requested to make repairs. The repairs were completed in the 1st year of Emperor Taisho (1912). The overall layout, including the gable roofs with layers of eaves, the diedou (piling-up wood bracket blocks) timber-frame, dragon-shaped arches, spider-web like caisson ceilings over the entrances on both sides are of great architectural and aesthetic values. As a whole, the temple impresses people with its exquisite decorations of Jiannian techniques (Fragmented Ceramic Art) involving cutting, pasting, and inlaying, together with magnificent swallow-tailed roofs, relief columns and elaborate stone engravings.