Peering through the smoky haze, can you feel the ancient energy thrumming beneath your feet here at Causeway Bay Tin Hau Temple? This isn’t just a temple. It’s a portal to another world.
Welcome to the Causeway Bay Tin Hau Temple. This temple is a testament to Hong Kong’s rich maritime history and the enduring faith of its people. The Causeway Bay Tin Hau Temple stands as a beacon of cultural heritage.
The Tai clan, Hakka people from Guangdong, built this temple in the early 18th century. They found a statue of Tin Hau near the shore. Tin Hau is the Empress of Heaven and patron of seafarers. The statue quickly became an object of worship. A simple shelter evolved into the temple we see today.
Over the years, the temple underwent several renovations. A bell inside bears the date 1747. This shows the temple’s significance by the mid-18th century. The major reconstruction happened in 1868. Repairs were done in 2004.
The Tai clan continues to manage the temple three centuries later. Management rotates yearly through the clan’s eight branches.
Two stone lions flank the entrance. They were added in 1845. Joss sticks burn in a brazier. Their fragrance ascends to the heavens. The stone doorway was captured by John Thompson in the 1870s. He was a pioneer photographer of East Asia. The eaves and ridge of the roof teem with Shek Wan porcelain figures.
Inside, the dong chung or spirit doors keep malignant spirits out. An offering table holds votive pagoda light towers. They add an air of mystery. The walls are blackened by incense smoke.
In the courtyard, a pool shelters turtles. A stucco dragon adorned with porcelain shards decorates the wall above. A furnace stands ready for burning god money. On the other side, a tiger balances the dragon.
The main hall houses the temple’s most important images. The Tai Sui, sixty gods governing the years, line the left wall. Choi Sun, the God of Wealth, resides on the far wall.
The main altar holds the goddess Tin Hau. Two demons flank her. Shun Fung Yi is Favourable Wind Ears. Chin Lei Ngan is Thousand Li Eyes. They were tamed by Tin Hau and became her bodyguards.
Tin Hau was born as Lín Mòniáng in Fujian Province around 960 CE. She saved her father and brothers from a typhoon. At 27, she ascended to heaven. Emperors bestowed titles upon her. She became the Empress of Heaven.
The statue within the temple is the one the Hakka enshrined. It has been here for over two centuries.
Pau Kung, Justice Pau, is on the right. He fairly judges the deceased. The Wo Hap Yi Sin, Immortals of Harmony and Union, stand nearby. They symbolize happy marriage and friendship.
As you leave, note the bell cast in 1747. Legends say the temple was built after a red stone shaped like an incense burner was found at sea. This stone was believed to be a gift from Tin Hau.
Today, tower blocks obscure the sea. Land reclamation has distanced the temple from the ocean. Yet, standing here, you can sense the power and mystery. Perhaps it’s the weight of history. Or maybe it’s Tin Hau’s potent energy. This temple remains a portal to another world.