“A Marshal needs a horse.” That’s what the villagers near Mok Tse Che thought centuries ago. Mok Tse Che itself is a village in the Sai Kung District of Hong Kong.
Let’s step back in time to discover the story of Mok Tse Che. This area is more than just a pin on a map. It has deep roots in local legend.
The story starts with the Che Kung Temple at Ho Chung, near Mok Tse Che. Most believe the Che Kung Temple is in Sha Tin. But the Ho Chung temple predates it by two centuries. It is about 460 years old. Locals consider it the “grandfather” of the Sha Tin temple.
The tale involves “Five Tigers from the Mountains”. Ho Chung village sits surrounded by five mountains. These mountains include Lok Shan Fu above Mok Tse Che. Also, there is Tai Lam Wu, Kai Ham, Pak Fa Lam and Wui Tau Fu. Fung Shui masters saw these as “Five Tigers”. They thought their fierce energy could bring misfortune. Luckily Chu Shan, or Pig Hill, protected the villagers. It blocked the tigers’ path.
During the Southern Sung Dynasty, Marshal Che Kung came to Sai Kung. He healed sick villagers. After he died, they honored him. They built the Che Kung Temple in Ho Chung. This was to remember the Marshal. Also, it served to control the fierce mountain energies.
Once the temple was complete, a problem arose. Some felt a marshal needed a horse. Funds were raised. A white stone horse was bought. It was placed outside the temple. Then, strange things began to happen.
For years, the village had bountiful harvests. After the horse arrived, harvests failed. Seedlings grew, but poorly. Villagers found crops trampled in the mornings. Animal footprints marked the soil. This went on for three years.
The villagers consulted a Fung Shui master. He said the white horse’s spirit caused the problems. They decided to act.
The villagers removed the white horse. They buried it outside the temple. They placed a large incense burner on top to suppress the spirit. After that, peace and good harvests returned.
This tale might seem like mere folklore. But it holds a mystery. Years ago, a scholar tried to find the truth. Using a radar detector, he thought he located the buried horse. However, the villagers stopped his excavation.
Today, the truth remains buried. But the story of the white horse near Mok Tse Che continues to spark the imagination. What really happened here? Perhaps one day the secret of Mok Tse Che will be revealed.