Che Kung Miu
Encyclopedia
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s for Che Kung
Che Kung
Che Kung was originally a military commander of Southern Song Dynasty , who legendarily had supreme power to suppress rebellion and was renowned for his loyalty to the Emperor. He was also famous for his power to suppress plagues and his skill in medicine...
(車公), who was a general during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) in ancient China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He is believed by some worshipers to have been involved in the attempt to keep the Song state alive by bringing Prince Ping
Emperor Bing of Song
Emperor Bing of Song was the last emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty of China. He was also known as Lord Perpetual-Nation ....
and his brother
Emperor Duanzong of Song
Emperor Duānzōng was the eighth and penultimate emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty of China who reigned from 1276 to 1278 and died at the early age of ten. He was also known as the "Nation Establishing Duke " ....
to the South. There are two temples dedicated to Che Kung in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
: one in Sha Tin and one in Ho Chung. Other temples in Hong Kong are partly dedicated to Che Kung.
Sha Tin
The Che Kung Miu near Tai WaiTai Wai
Tai Wai is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong, located between Sha Tin New Town and the Lion Rock. It is the largest part of the Sha Tin District....
, in Sha Tin District
Sha Tin District
Sha Tin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. One of the 9 districts located in the New Territories, it covers the areas of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, Fo Tan, Siu Lek Yuen and Ma Liu Shui . The district has the highest population...
, New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
, is the most famous one in Hong Kong. During the second and the third days of Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
, thousands of people go to this temple to worship, including many local Hong Kong government officials. This temple, on Che Kung Miu Road
Che Kung Miu Road
Che Kung Miu Road is a road in Tai Wai, Sha Tin District in Hong Kong. It is named after the Che Kung Temple located in Sha Tin. The 2.4 km road starts at Che Kung Temple Station and ends at Hin Keng Estate. It intersects with Hung Mui Kuk Road....
, is located midway between Tai Wai and Che Kung Temple stations of the MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
.
The original temple was first built at the end of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(1368-1644) and was renovated 1890, 1993 and 2004. The external walls are now plastered with false brick lines and the roofs with green glazed ceramic tiles. The recent renovation is considered to have "very much diminished the authenticity of temple". Due to the high number of worshipers during the Che Kung Festival following the Lunar New Year, a new temple was built in 1994 in front of the original one. The original temple has been preserved in-situ; it is only occasionally open to the public. It is classified as a Grade II historic building since 1987.
The current Che Kung temple, in Japanese-style, was built in 1993-1994 at a cost of HK$48 million. It is eight times the size of the old one. The main hall contains a giant statue of Che Kung. Next to it is a fan-bladed wheel of fortune, which, worshippers believe, will bring good luck when turned three times. Fortune-tellers
Fortune-telling
Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting information about a person's life. The scope of fortune-telling is in principle identical with the practice of divination...
can be found within the temple.
The temple is administered by the Chinese Temples Committee
Chinese Temples Committee
The Chinese Temples Committee is a statutory body in Hong Kong established under the Chinese Temples Ordinance . It is mainly responsible for the operation and management of twenty-four temples directly under its management. It also handles temple registration...
since 1936. Admission to the temple is free, but it is customary for visitors to donate money to support the maintenance of the temple. Its opening hours are 7:00am to 6:00pm daily.
Ho Chung
Sai Kung District
Sai Kung District is the second largest district in Hong Kong in terms of area. It comprises the southern half of Sai Kung Peninsula and Clear Water Bay Peninsula in the New Territories plus a strip to the east of Kowloon. The administrative centre is Sai Kung Town but the district's population is...
, the temple is one of the oldest in Hong Kong. Initially built in the mid-16th century, the temple predates its popular counterpart near Tai Wai in Sha Tin. The present temple structure probably dates largely from 1878, while the temple furniture probably dates from the Xianfeng
Xianfeng Emperor
The Xianfeng Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro I Ju, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1850 to 1861.-Family and his early years:...
era (1850-1861).
It is great place to be for Chinese New Year, as the spirit of Che Kung is celebrated alongside memories of family members that have passed to the next life.
Other deities worshipped at the temple include Hung Shing
Hung Shing
Hung Shing , also known as Hung Shing Ye and Tai Wong , was a government official in the Tang Dynasty named Hung Hei serving Pun Yue in present-day Guangdong, China....
, Tin Hau and Choi Pak Shing Kun (財帛星君).
Run by villagers for over 300 years, the temple is now being kept by Wan Sai Cheung of the Wan family who have been residents in Ho Chung village for many generations. It is listed as a Grade II historic building since 1996. The temple has been renovated several times. It is considered that "the authenticity [of the building] is in general kept". Known renovation dates include 1908, 1994 and 2002, while other sources also mention 1934 and 2000.
Other temples
Other temples in Hong Kong are partly dedicated to Che Kung. These include:- I Shing Temple (二聖宮), in Tung Tau Wai (東頭圍), Wang ChauWang Chau (Yuen Long)Wang Chau is an area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong, located west of the Shan Pui River.Long Ping Estate is a mixed public/TPS estate in Wang Chau.-Sights:Several monuments are located in Wang Chau, including:...
. Built in 1718, it is dedicated to Hung ShingHung ShingHung Shing , also known as Hung Shing Ye and Tai Wong , was a government official in the Tang Dynasty named Hung Hei serving Pun Yue in present-day Guangdong, China....
and Che Kung. It was declared a monumentDeclared monuments of Hong KongDeclared monuments of Hong Kong are places, structures or buildings legally declared to be "protected". In Hong Kong, declaring a monument requires consulting the Antiquities Advisory Board, the approval of the Chief Executive as well as the publication of the notice in government gazette.As of 12...
in June 1996. - In the Chung Shing Temple (眾聖宮, "Temple of All Saints"), in Wing Lung WaiWing Lung WaiWing Lung Wai is a walled village located in the Kam Tin area of Yuen Long District, in Hong Kong. Three other walled villages, Kat Hing Wai, Tai Hong Wai , and Kam Hing Wai are located nearby and were built around the same time.-History:The village was founded was founded by Tang Siu-kui and...
, Kam TinKam TinKam Tin , or Kam Tin Heung , is an area in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It is north of Tai Mo Shan and east of Yuen Long. It was formerly known as Sham Tin...
, eleven deities are worshiped, including Kwun Yam, Hung ShingHung ShingHung Shing , also known as Hung Shing Ye and Tai Wong , was a government official in the Tang Dynasty named Hung Hei serving Pun Yue in present-day Guangdong, China....
and Che Kung.
Festivals
There are four annual Che Kung Festivals (車公誕):- 2nd day of the first lunar monthChinese calendarThe Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
, the most popular, is Che Kung's birthday. People come to the temple to worship Che Kung, turn fan-bladed wheels of fortune and beat the drum to ensure good luck in the coming year. About 100,000 people visit the Tai Wai Temple at this time of the year. Crowd management and traffic arrangements are implemented each year during the festival. - 27th day of the third lunar month
- 6th day of the sixth lunar month
- 16th day of the eighth lunar month