Gazetteer of Tianhou Temple 天后宫志

Full title: Records of the North City Tianhou Palace

Compiled by Ding Wu of Qiantang.

One volume, included in the Topography of Temples and Abbeys category of Daoist Texts Outside the Canon.

Gazetteer of Tianhou Temple

Tianhou Palace is situated on Haier Lane in the north of Hangzhou, hence the name North City Tianhou Palace. This book records the historical evolution of Tianhou Palace, a brief biography of Tianhou, and its scenic historical sites, among other details.

Prefaced to the text are historical records of Tianhou Palace excerpted from Imperially Commissioned Complete Collection of Ancient and Modern Books, Records of West Lake Tours and the Kangxi-era Records of Hangzhou Prefecture. It is followed by the original biography of Tianhou, her honorific titles, and sacrificial texts from Records of Fujian Province and Illustrated Records of Sacred Deeds. Next come imperial edicts and sacrificial texts for rituals held in successive dynasties, stone carvings of honorific titles bestowed in various dynasties, and accounts of Tianhou being enshrined in the spring and autumn sacrificial ceremonies, all taken from Illustrated Records of Sacred Deeds. The book also includes Revised Memorial for Tianhou Palace on Haier Lane in Hangzhou by Nong Xiangqing, imperial plaques granted in successive dynasties, inscriptions commemorating the reconstruction of Tianhou Palace, and sacrificial poems and essays from various dynasties.

This work is a compilation of materials concerning the life and deeds of Tianhou, compiled and edited into a gazetteer by Ding Wu, a native of Qiantang, during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. Rich in content, it is a precious source for the study of Tianhou and Tianhou Palace, and also preserves important documents reflecting the development of Taoist Priest sacrificial culture and folk beliefs in the Daozang system and folk traditions.