瀏(liu)河天(tian)妃(fei)宮(gong)(gong)(gong),又(you)名(ming)“天(tian)妃(fei)靈慈宮(gong)(gong)(gong)”,俗稱“娘娘廟”,為我(wo)國(guo)明代航海(hai)家鄭(zheng)和(he)下西洋的重(zhong)要歷史遺跡。始(shi)建于(yu)北宋宣(xuan)和(he)五年(公元1123年),元代至正(zheng)二年(公元1342年)移建于(yu)現址。據文(wen)獻(xian)記(ji)載(zai),瀏(liu)河天(tian)妃(fei)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)同湄洲媽祖廟、泉(quan)州(zhou)天(tian)后宮(gong)(gong)(gong)、天(tian)津天(tian)后宮(gong)(gong)(gong)一起被統稱為大陸(lu)元代“四大媽祖廟”。瀏(liu)河天(tian)妃(fei)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)因此成為江(jiang)南地區(qu)最(zui)古老、最(zui)負盛名(ming)、最(zui)具獨特(te)歷史價值的媽祖廟。
據史(shi)料記載:當年(nian)鄭(zheng)和(he)七次(ci)下西洋(yang)都在這里祭拜媽祖,以祈求(qiu)海(hai)上的平(ping)(ping)安(an),場(chang)面非常(chang)隆(long)重。鄭(zheng)和(he)七次(ci)下西洋(yang),每(mei)次(ci)從劉家港出海(hai)之前(qian)都要(yao)必先率船隊官兵把(ba)天妃宮(gong)修葺一(yi)新,在此進(jin)香(xiang)祈求(qiu)朝拜海(hai)神娘(niang)娘(niang),祈佑出海(hai)平(ping)(ping)安(an),而(er)每(mei)次(ci)平(ping)(ping)安(an)歸(gui)航時又要(yao)至(zhi)此朝拜謝神,并(bing)供奉船模,并(bing)將記載七次(ci)下西洋(yang)經過(guo)的《通番事跡碑(bei)》立于(yu)天妃宮(gong)內。
有(you)的(de)(de)史料還記(ji)載(zai)鄭和把出使各國帶回的(de)(de)西域海棠,大(da)紅牡丹(dan)、黃蕃(fan)薇等植于宮(gong)內。特(te)別重要的(de)(de)是,《通番(fan)事跡碑》記(ji)載(zai):宣德(de)五年冬鄭和奉使第(di)七次下西洋之前亦(yi)到此進香朝拜,修建(jian)該(gai)廟。
清道光(guang)(guang)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(1843年(nian)(nian))林則徐(xu)任江蘇(su)巡撫時,曾重(zhong)修天(tian)(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)。1911年(nian)(nian)秋,正殿毀于大火,僅存后殿。建國后改做糧庫等設(she)施。現存的天(tian)(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)后殿為(wei)清代所建,1995年(nian)(nian)被列為(wei)江蘇(su)省重(zhong)點(dian)文物保護單位,為(wei)獲準開(kai)放的道教(jiao)活動點(dian)。2011年(nian)(nian)4月(yue)30日(ri),瀏河天(tian)(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)修復,媽祖(zu)神象開(kai)光(guang)(guang)儀式(shi)在天(tian)(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)隆重(zhong)舉行(xing)。