Tin Hau Temple Complex, Yau Ma Tei Explained

Tin Hau Temple Complex
Native Name:油麻地天后廟
Native Name Lang:zh-hant
Religious Affiliation:Chinese folk religion
Deity:Tin Hau
District:Yau Tsim Mong
Region:Hong Kong
Country:China
Heritage Designation:Declared monument
Governing Body:Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
Established:1864

The Tin Hau Temple Complex is a temple in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It comprises a row of five adjacent buildings: a Tin Hau Temple, a Shing Wong Temple, a Kwun Yum temple, Shea Tan and Hsu Yuen. The nearby Temple Street is named after it.

Location

The Tin Hau Temple Complex is located in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. A public square, Yung Shue Tau, occupied by the Yau Ma Tei Community Centre Rest Garden, is located in front of the complex, and is surrounded by the popular Temple Street night market. The northern side of the complex is bordered by Public Square Street. At the back of the Complex (east) is the Public Square Street Children's Playground and Rest Garden, itself located along Nathan Road, the main thoroughfare in Kowloon. The Garden features a Nine-Dragon Wall.

Features

The temple complex comprises five buildings separated by four lanes. From left to right when facing them:

History

The Tin Hau Temple was probably erected at this location in 1864. It originated from a small temple in the present Kwun Chung Market area, that was later moved to the present site by boat people and villagers of Yau Ma Tei.[4] Originally facing the Yau Ma Tei waterfront, it is now almost three kilometers from the shore, as a consequence of land reclamation.[5] The Kung Sor and Hsu Yuen were used until 1955 as a venue for a free school teaching the boat and land people.[2]

Conservation

Before 1914, the temple was managed by the council set up by the merchants in Yau Ma Tei. The temple has been under the management of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals since 1914,[4] with the transfer of management made official in 1928.[1] The Tin Hau Temple, previously a Grade II historic building since 1987, was listed as a Grade I historic building since June 2000.[6] The Tin Hau Temple and the adjoining buildings were listed as declared monuments in May 2020.[7]

See also

External links

Chinese, English

Notes and References

  1. [Antiquities and Monuments Office]
  2. [Antiquities Advisory Board]
  3. Legislative Council Brief. Heritage Appraisal of Tin Hau Temple and the adjoining buildings, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
  4. http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_I_Items.pdf Brief Information on proposed Grade I Items. Item #17
  5. Book: Wordie, Jason. Streets: Exploring Kowloon. 2007. Hong Kong University Press. 9789622098138. 83.
  6. [Antiquities and Monuments Office]
  7. Web site: Three historic items declared as monuments . 22 May 2020 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525183348/https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/whatsnew_20200522.php . 25 May 2021 . dead.