In 1694 in early Ching Dynasty, a monk by the name of Shu-Pi personally introduced Goddess Matsu from her home temple Chaotien Temple at Meichou, Fukien on the Nainland to Taiwan. Goddess Matsu landed at the spot north of Penkang (Current location of Current location of Chaotien Temple) And intended to permanently settle there to bless the local people. The Statue of Goddess Matsu was jubilantly greeted by the local inhabitants of Taiwan who, their Contributions, built a small temple to accom mmodate her and requested Monk Shu-Pi to serve as the temple abbot. Local Six years later, in 1700, a Buddhist by the name of Chen Li-Shum donated building lot of the temple and raise funds to renovate the ragged small temple. The renovated temple was christened "Heavenly Queen Temple" and attracted tremendous number of followers. In 1730, that temple was further renovated and expanded into "Penkang Heavenly Queen Temple". In 1951, the temple was refurbished to a new look.
In the year 1770, Penkang Magistrate Hsueh Chao-heng considered that the temple to simple to live up to the dignity of Goddess Matsu thus took the initiative to donate his salaries for reconstruction of the temple. He ordered hisa officials Chen Jui-sheng, Ta-cheng and others to raise great funds. The reconstruction took teo years beginning 1773. The new temple consists of twop temple buildings. The front temple is for worship of Goddess matsu and the rear temple for Goddess of mercy. The six units in the east wing accommodated monks. In the years of Emperor Tao kuang, the temple was rechristened "Chaotien Temple" afer the name of its home temple on the Mainland.
In the years of Emperor Chia ching, Goddess matsu significantly helped Imperial Official wang The-lu quell pirate riots. In response to the report by Wang The-lu's descendant, the emperor, with imperial decree, officially endowed Gooddess Matsu with the title to the effect of "Security Guarding Heavenly Mother".
In 1854, a number of ranking officials from the Mainland and in Taiwan initiated the project for expansion of the Temple into a palace-type architectural complex. The front wing consisted of worship courtyard andeast and west chambers. The second wing was for worship of the Heavenly Mother, third wing for Goddess of mercy; east wing for San-Kuan Heavenly Emperors, west wing for Wenchang God, the 4th wing for Goddess Matsu's parents; east wing for Goddess of Childgiving and west wing, Lang God.
In late Ching Dynasty, 1906, as part of the temple architecture became worn out, Peikang regional mayor Tsai Jan-piao and other local tyccons proposed that the temple be rebuilt. The rebuilding took four years beginning 1908 until 1912, with funds contributed from over thirty thousand worshipers. In 1959, the Temple's management committee decided to carry out an overall re-furbishment which was completed in 1963. In November of the same year, follow-up refurbishment of the roof tiles began and took two years to complete the job. With common efforts and contributions from numerous Goddess Matsu worshipers, the Temple is among the few most magnificent ones in Taiwan. Every year, Goddess Matsu is worshiped by more then five million followers. Peikand Chaotien Temple is virtually the center of Taiwan's Matsu worshipers.

Ma-Zo, the Heavenly Mother, was a native of the Mei-Chou Isles at Pu-Tien Hsien, Fukien Province. Ma-Zo was given birth on March 23rd of 960 by her Buddism-devouted parents. Without uttering a cry within the first month of her birth, her parents gave her the name of "Profound Lady" Since her childhood, Ma-Zo was marvelously intelligent and devoted herself to Buddism. At the age of thirteen, she was instructed by a monk and became mastered in the mythe of theology. At sixteen, she was endowed with super-natural power by a god and began to give cure to the sick and evil-ridden people. At last Ma-Zo bade farewell to her family and joined the ranks of gods.

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