瀏(liu)河(he)天(tian)(tian)妃(fei)(fei)(fei)宮(gong)(gong),又(you)名“天(tian)(tian)妃(fei)(fei)(fei)靈(ling)慈宮(gong)(gong)”,俗稱“娘娘廟”,為(wei)我國明代航海(hai)家(jia)鄭和(he)下西洋的重要(yao)歷史(shi)遺跡。始建于北宋宣和(he)五年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)1123年(nian)),元(yuan)代至正(zheng)二年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)1342年(nian))移建于現址。據文獻記(ji)載,瀏(liu)河(he)天(tian)(tian)妃(fei)(fei)(fei)宮(gong)(gong)同(tong)湄(mei)洲(zhou)媽(ma)(ma)祖廟、泉州天(tian)(tian)后宮(gong)(gong)、天(tian)(tian)津天(tian)(tian)后宮(gong)(gong)一起(qi)被統稱為(wei)大(da)陸(lu)元(yuan)代“四大(da)媽(ma)(ma)祖廟”。瀏(liu)河(he)天(tian)(tian)妃(fei)(fei)(fei)宮(gong)(gong)因此成(cheng)為(wei)江(jiang)南地(di)區最(zui)古老、最(zui)負盛名、最(zui)具獨特歷史(shi)價值(zhi)的媽(ma)(ma)祖廟。
據史料(liao)記載:當年鄭和(he)七(qi)次下西洋(yang)都在這(zhe)里(li)祭拜(bai)(bai)媽祖,以祈求(qiu)海(hai)(hai)上的(de)平安,場面非常(chang)隆重。鄭和(he)七(qi)次下西洋(yang),每次從劉家港出海(hai)(hai)之前都要必先率船(chuan)隊官兵把天妃(fei)宮(gong)修葺一新(xin),在此(ci)(ci)進香祈求(qiu)朝拜(bai)(bai)海(hai)(hai)神娘(niang)娘(niang),祈佑出海(hai)(hai)平安,而每次平安歸航時又要至此(ci)(ci)朝拜(bai)(bai)謝神,并供(gong)奉船(chuan)模(mo),并將記載七(qi)次下西洋(yang)經(jing)過的(de)《通番事跡碑(bei)》立于天妃(fei)宮(gong)內。
有的(de)史料還記(ji)載(zai)鄭(zheng)和(he)把出使各國(guo)帶回的(de)西域海棠,大紅(hong)牡丹、黃蕃薇等植(zhi)于宮(gong)內。特別(bie)重要的(de)是,《通番(fan)事跡碑》記(ji)載(zai):宣德五年冬鄭(zheng)和(he)奉(feng)使第七次下西洋之前亦到此進香朝拜,修建該廟。
清道光(guang)四年(1843年)林則徐任(ren)江蘇巡撫時(shi),曾重修天(tian)妃(fei)(fei)宮(gong)。1911年秋,正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)毀于大火,僅(jin)存(cun)后殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。建國后改做糧庫等設施。現存(cun)的天(tian)妃(fei)(fei)宮(gong)后殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)清代所建,1995年被列為(wei)(wei)(wei)江蘇省重點文物保(bao)護單位,為(wei)(wei)(wei)獲(huo)準開(kai)放(fang)的道教活(huo)動(dong)點。2011年4月30日,瀏河(he)天(tian)妃(fei)(fei)宮(gong)修復,媽(ma)祖神(shen)象(xiang)開(kai)光(guang)儀式在天(tian)妃(fei)(fei)宮(gong)隆重舉(ju)行。