Maling Temple
Maling Temple is a temple located in the village of Chituqi, Houlong Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
Origin
Chituqi is located on top of a plateau near the coast along the Taiwan Strait. Historically, the area was mostly uninhabited and undeveloped for its remoteness and superstitions surrounding an unmarked mass grave there. In 1930, a yin miao named "Wanshan Temple" was constructed near the remains. According to legend, a pair of ghosts, one male and one female, dwelled in the area that would lead the way for lost travelers. Merchants claimed that every time the pair appeared, their business for the day would be good. Fishermen also claimed that a fireball would shoot up from the temple whenever the ocean's conditions were dangerous the next day. Therefore, The pair of ghosts were seen as deities, and in the 1960s, it was rebuilt and dedicated to the ghosts.According to temple officials, the female ghost was named Wang Baoying, and is believed to be a consort to Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. Supposedly, Wang led an army in 1741 to quash a pro-Ming rebel's forces in Taiwan. When they landed in Tamsui, Wang befriended Liu Xuanxiang, who served as her lead. However, the entire army was annihilated in Chitugi in an ambush. Wang and Liu are known as Dazhongma and Dazhongye, respectively. The bones from the mass grave are now stored in the temple.