The weathered stone of the Sau Mau Ping Shing Wong Temple whispers tales of centuries past. This isn’t just any temple. It’s a place where the living commune with the spirits of the departed. Originally built in 1877 as Fuk Tak Tsz it was dedicated to Fuk Tak Kung the god of virtue and good fortune. Locals often confused him with To Dei Kung the Earth God.
The temple underwent a significant transformation in 1974. The main deity changed. A larger more powerful god was installed higher on the celestial hierarchy. The original three chambers expanded to six. The older structure remains. It is now the heart of the temple. The entrance is a beautiful choi mun a boat-shaped stone doorframe. It still bears the original Fuk and Tak characters. These mark the temple’s original dedication.
In a side chamber you find To Dei Kung and his wife To Dei Por. They are carved from wood. Once the main gods they’ve been moved to make way for their superior. The offering table is always full of incense and lamps. They’re still very powerful here. They still watch over local affairs.
Nearby is a shrine to Ng Tung the Five Lucks. They represent longevity riches honor health and peace. These five figures watch the faithful who seek their blessings. Their dark faces add to their mysterious power.
The main hall houses Shing Wong the City God. He oversees the dead. His temple is where the living make offerings to their ancestors. The antechamber is full of paper items. These are burned to send their essence to loved ones in the afterlife. The Chinese view this afterlife as somewhere spirits can continue their lives. A constant supply of offerings keeps them content.
Shing Wong’s watchful gaze is profound. On the altar before him often rests a photo of the recently deceased. The family hopes his spirit will find peace. The Chinese believe in two souls wan and pak. Wan ascends to the family altar pak stays with the body. Keeping ancestral spirits happy is vital.
Flanking Shing Wong are the Ten Kings of Hell. Their plaques preside over the ten palaces of hell. They decide the fate of the dead. Under the main altar is Dei Chong Wong the Buddhist Earth Treasury Bodhisattva. He also oversees the hells. Dei Ju a local earth god is represented by a tablet.
The Sau Mau Ping Shing Wong Temple is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a living testament to faith tradition and the enduring bond between the living and the dead. It is a place of quiet contemplation a space to connect with the past and the eternal.