Tin Hau Temple, Causeway Bay

The Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay is one of the Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong. It is located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it (Island line), and consequently the neighboring area of Tin Hau.

Tin Hau Temple, Causeway Bay
Tin Hau Temple, Causeway Bay
Traditional Chinese銅鑼灣天后廟
Facade
Tin Hau Temple, Causeway Bay, photographed by John Thomson in 1869.
View from Tin Hau Temple Road, with entrance of the Tin Hau Temple Garden.

History

The original temple dates back to 1747 (the date of the temple bell)[1] and was built by members of the Tai family, a family of Hakkas from Guangdong, who first settled in Kowloon.[2] Legend has it, the family used to travel by boat to Causeway Bay to gather grass and discovered an incense burner found floating miraculously on the sea. This incident gave rise to one of the pre-colonial names for Hong Kong Island, Hung Heung Lo (Red Incense-burner island).[3]

The present building dates back to 1868 and despite renovations, is still largely in its original form. It is now located inland as a consequence of land reclamation, originally being on the waterfront.[4]

Architecture and layout

The temple is famous for the fine Shek Wan figurines on its roof and eaves, and the quality of its stone carvings around the entrance. Inside the temple, the main altar and several side altars are dedicated to Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea and patron "saint" of seafarers.[3]

Additional side altars dedicated to Tsoi San, the God of Wealth, and Kwun Yum, the Goddess of childbirth. Finally there are side altars to the black-faced Pau Kung, the Lenient Judge of the Underworld.[3] He is worshipped in the hope that he will be merciful to the souls in his care.

Conservation

The Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay became a declared monument[2] in 1982.[5]

References
  1. "Tin Hau & Tai Hang | American Women's Association". www.awa.org.hk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  2. Antiquities and Monuments Office: Tin Hau Temple, Causeway Bay
  3. "How to Know Hong Kong and Macau: Tin Hau Temple Road". How to Know Hong Kong and Macau. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  4. Wordie, Jason (2002). Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. pp. 140–141. ISBN 962-209-563-1.
  5. "Annex I Listing of Declared Monuments". Environmental Protection Department. Government of Hong Kong. 1 January 1999. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2013.

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