福佑宮 Fuyou Temple
俗稱媽祖宮(臺語),主祀天上聖母。本廟草創於乾隆年間,約1782年,為昔日渡海來滬尾移民共同信仰中心,是淡水最早之廟宇。其後,由地方士紳發起募款,由滬尾街商民等合力集資,於嘉慶2年(1797)改築成日後規模宏偉之殿宇。前清及日治時期,曾經多次修繕,但大致保存原有風貌。1884年清法戰爭滬尾之役,相傳媽祖顯靈助陣,擊退法軍,事後獲頒光緒皇帝御筆「翌天昭佑」匾額,今仍高懸於正殿。據親見滬尾之役的地方宿儒雷俊臣口述,戰爭結束後,孫開華為陣亡官兵當起和尚,於福佑宮內舉行誦經超渡,涕零如雨。(文:張建隆)
Fuyou Temple is known to locals as Matsu Temple and is dedicated to Matsu. The temple was established around 1782 during the Qianlong Era and was the common religious center of early settlers in Hobe, making it the first temple in Tamsui. In 1797, local gentry and merchants raised the money to construct the magnificent temple complex we see today. The temple was renovated on several occasions during the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese colonial period, but the overall style remained little changed. The temple is therefore of tremendous architectural, artistic and cultural value. However, the most recent renovations to left and right side buildings failed to preserve the original architectural character. Hopefully, greater care will be taken with future renovations. Local legend says that Matsu’s divine intervention helped defeat the French troops at the Battle of Tamsui during the Sino-French War of 1884. An imperial plaque personally written by Emperor Guangxu was therefore bestowed upon the temple and this still hangs in the main hall today. Lei Jun-chen, a local scholar who witnessed the Battle of Tamsui, said that Sun Kai-hua became a monk after the war to pray for the officers and men killed in action. The prayer ceremony held at Fuyou Temple left Sun in tears. (Text: Jian-long Chang)