Imagine stars falling from the sky. These stars guided the Tang clan to build the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda. This pagoda stands before us. It is not just a building. It is a beacon of hope and achievement.
The Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda is Hong Kong’s only surviving ancient pagoda. It is near the MTR Tin Shui Wai station. The Light Rail Tin Shui Wai stop is also close. You can find it along the Ping Shan Heritage Trail. The government declared it a monument.
Tang Yin-tung built the pagoda over 600 years ago. He was the seventh-generation ancestor of the Tang clan. Legend says he wanted to ward off evil spirits. These spirits came from the north. He also wanted to prevent floods. Tang Yin-tung hoped to bring good fortune to his clan. He wanted them to succeed in imperial examinations.
Another Tang legend speaks of a dream. In 1382, Tang Yin-tung dreamt of stars gathering. They fell upon the pagoda’s location. A fung shui master had praised Ping Shan’s fung shui. He also noted some geographical weaknesses. Tang consulted a fung shui master about his dream. The master advised him to build a pagoda. This would gather scholarship for the clan. That is how the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda got its name. After its construction, the Tang clan produced many scholars. They also became officials in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Originally, the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda may have had seven floors. Erosion reduced it to three. It is made of mud bricks and granite. The pagoda stands only 13 metres high.
Fui Shing is worshipped on the top floor. People inscribed “Over the Milky Way” there. Fui Shing decided which scholars passed their exams. He determined who received titles. The second floor reads “The Pagoda of Gathering Stars”. The ground floor says “Light Shines Straight Onto the Dippers and the Enclosures”.
The pagoda’s construction reflects Chinese culture. It shows the importance of fung shui. Clan members call it a “literati pagoda”. Its alignment with Castle Peak ensures success. This highlights the Tang clan’s focus on education. The Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda faces Deep Bay. It was meant to suppress tides. It would prevent them from taking away Ping Shan’s wealth. This exemplifies “collecting water and gathering wealth”.
The entrance has a granite frame. The middle floor has an arched opening. The top floor features a round opening. Each storey is separated by a grey-brick cornice. Prism-shaped decorations adorn it.
Kwan Tai and Man Cheong are also revered. Kwan Tai is the Martial God. Man Cheong is the God of Literature. They are on the first floor. The reverence for these deities reflects the Tang clan’s values. They nurtured talented individuals for generations.
The Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda is more than bricks and legends. It is a testament to ambition. It embodies the pursuit of knowledge. The Tang clan’s legacy lives on. It inspires us to reach for the stars.