庙岛与中国北方最早的妈祖庙

Miaodao Thean Hou Temple-Earliest Mazu Temple in North China

庙岛，古称沙门岛，古时此岛是囚禁犯人的地方。北宋宣和四年（1122年）。岛上渔人为求海神保佑，在沙门岛凤凰山前修建了天后宫．又称娘娘庙。庙岛之名即由此而来。

In ancient times, Changdao was called Miaodao Archipelago for its numerous temples. A mong all the temples, there were 28 Thean Hou Temples （called as Mazu Temple by southern Chinese） on all islands. Miaodao Thean Hou Temple, the most influential one, was first built in the fourth year of Xuanhc Reign in Song Dynasty （1122）. It was also the earliest and largest temple in honor of Sea Goddess in north China. It was worshipped by so many pilgrims in different dynasties that the royal court, island residents, fleets along the coast from the north and the south and even emissaries from Japan and Korea all bowed in worship and piety to Sea Goddess in Miaodao Thcan Itou Temple. In the first year of Chongzhen Reign in the Ming Dynasty, it was decreed to be an imperial temple, named as ＂Xianying Palace＇＂ in accordance with the board inscribed by Emperor Chongzhen.