瀏河(he)天(tian)(tian)(tian)妃宮,又名(ming)“天(tian)(tian)(tian)妃靈慈宮”,俗稱“娘(niang)娘(niang)廟”,為我國明代(dai)航海家鄭和(he)下西洋的重要歷史(shi)遺跡(ji)。始建于北宋(song)宣和(he)五(wu)年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)1123年(nian)),元(yuan)代(dai)至正二年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)1342年(nian))移建于現址(zhi)。據文獻(xian)記載,瀏河(he)天(tian)(tian)(tian)妃宮同湄(mei)洲媽(ma)祖(zu)廟、泉(quan)州天(tian)(tian)(tian)后(hou)宮、天(tian)(tian)(tian)津天(tian)(tian)(tian)后(hou)宮一(yi)起(qi)被統稱為大(da)(da)陸元(yuan)代(dai)“四大(da)(da)媽(ma)祖(zu)廟”。瀏河(he)天(tian)(tian)(tian)妃宮因此成(cheng)為江南地區最(zui)(zui)(zui)古(gu)老(lao)、最(zui)(zui)(zui)負盛名(ming)、最(zui)(zui)(zui)具獨特歷史(shi)價值(zhi)的媽(ma)祖(zu)廟。
據史料記(ji)載(zai):當年鄭和七(qi)次(ci)(ci)(ci)下西洋都在(zai)這里祭拜媽祖,以祈求海(hai)上的平安(an),場面非常(chang)隆重。鄭和七(qi)次(ci)(ci)(ci)下西洋,每(mei)次(ci)(ci)(ci)從劉家港出海(hai)之前都要(yao)必(bi)先率(lv)船隊(dui)官兵把天(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)修葺一新,在(zai)此進香祈求朝拜海(hai)神娘(niang)娘(niang),祈佑(you)出海(hai)平安(an),而每(mei)次(ci)(ci)(ci)平安(an)歸航時又要(yao)至此朝拜謝神,并(bing)供奉(feng)船模,并(bing)將記(ji)載(zai)七(qi)次(ci)(ci)(ci)下西洋經(jing)過的《通番(fan)事跡碑(bei)》立于天(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)內。
有的(de)史料還記載鄭(zheng)和把出使(shi)各(ge)國帶回(hui)的(de)西(xi)域海棠(tang),大紅牡丹、黃蕃薇等植于(yu)宮(gong)內(nei)。特別重要的(de)是,《通番事(shi)跡碑》記載:宣德五年冬鄭(zheng)和奉使(shi)第七次(ci)下西(xi)洋之(zhi)前(qian)亦到此進(jin)香(xiang)朝拜,修建該(gai)廟。
清道(dao)(dao)光(guang)四年(nian)(nian)(1843年(nian)(nian))林則(ze)徐任江蘇巡撫時,曾重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)天(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)。1911年(nian)(nian)秋,正殿(dian)毀于大火(huo),僅存后(hou)殿(dian)。建(jian)(jian)國(guo)后(hou)改做(zuo)糧庫等設施。現存的(de)天(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)后(hou)殿(dian)為(wei)清代所建(jian)(jian),1995年(nian)(nian)被列為(wei)江蘇省(sheng)重(zhong)(zhong)點文物保護單位,為(wei)獲準開(kai)(kai)放的(de)道(dao)(dao)教活動(dong)點。2011年(nian)(nian)4月(yue)30日,瀏河(he)天(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)修(xiu)復,媽祖神象(xiang)開(kai)(kai)光(guang)儀式(shi)在天(tian)妃宮(gong)(gong)隆重(zhong)(zhong)舉行。