Hau Kok Tin Hau Temple
Encyclopedia
Hau Kok Tin Hau Temple (后角天后廟 or 口角天后古廟; lit. "Mouth Horn
Tin Hau Temple") is a Tin Hau temple
in Tuen Mun
, Hong Kong
.
Channel. It is located next to Tin Hau Road in Tuen Mun, within a short distance from the Tuen Mun Station of the West Rail Line. Initially built at the seashore and facing the sea, the temple is now inland and surrounded by factories since the 1970 and 1980s as a consequence of land reclamation
.
, the To (陶) clansmen
, who were engaged in the salt business, migrated to Tuen Mun. They developed close ties with local fishermen and worked together for the expansion of the Temple. People living in the walled villages
also helped in financing its renovation on a number of occasions. The temple was rebuilt in 1989.
) every year, villagers and fishermen hold a series of celebrations in the open space in front of the Temple. They pray for prosperity and peace by staging thanksgiving opera performances as well as dragon
and lion dance
s. Every year, Lunar New Year
fair will be organized in the square in front of Tin Hau Temple. Besides, it is also a place for earthen pot gathering.
at Exit A of Tuen Mun Station (West Rail Line) towards Tin Hau Road. The journey takes about 5 minutes. One may take LRT route No. 610, 615 or 615P and alight at Tsing Shan Tsuen Stop
. One may also take bus route No. 66 at Sham Shui Po
(Yen Chow Street
) or No. 66M at Tsuen Wan MTR station.
Tin Hau Temple") is a Tin Hau temple
Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong
Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
in Tuen Mun
Tuen Mun
Tuen Mun is a town near the mouth of Tuen Mun River and Castle Peak Bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It was one of the earliest settlements in Hong Kong which can be dated back to the Neolithic period. In the more recent past, it was home to many Tanka fishermen who gathered at the Castle...
, 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...
.
Location
The temple stands by the Tuen Mun RiverTuen Mun River
The Tuen Mun River is a river in Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong. It has many tributaries, with major ones coming from Lam Tei, Kau Keng Shan, Hung Shui Hang and Nai Wai. It flows south, splitting Tuen Mun into a west side and an east side...
Channel. It is located next to Tin Hau Road in Tuen Mun, within a short distance from the Tuen Mun Station of the West Rail Line. Initially built at the seashore and facing the sea, the temple is now inland and surrounded by factories since the 1970 and 1980s as a consequence of land reclamation
Land reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
.
History
Being a hub of waterway transport, Tuen Mun attracted fishermen communities in the ancient times. The fishermen wished to enjoy the protection and blessings of the heavenly goddess Tin Hau (Mazu) and built a temple at Hau Kok in Tuen Mun Kau Hui (Tuen Mun Old Market) in 1637 to worship her and pray for safety. During the Ming DynastyMing 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...
, the To (陶) clansmen
Chinese clan
A Chinese clan is a patrilineal and patrilocal group of related Chinese people with a common surname sharing a common ancestor and, in many cases, an ancestral home.-Description:...
, who were engaged in the salt business, migrated to Tuen Mun. They developed close ties with local fishermen and worked together for the expansion of the Temple. People living in the walled villages
Walled villages of Hong Kong
Once common throughout China, walled villages can still be found in southern China and Hong Kong. Most of the walled villages in Hong Kong are located in the New Territories...
also helped in financing its renovation on a number of occasions. The temple was rebuilt in 1989.
Activities
The Temple has always been well patronized by worshippers. During the Tin Hau Festival (on the 23rd day of the third month in the Chinese calendarChinese calendar
The 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...
) every year, villagers and fishermen hold a series of celebrations in the open space in front of the Temple. They pray for prosperity and peace by staging thanksgiving opera performances as well as dragon
Dragon dance
Dragon dance is a form of traditional dance and performance in Chinese culture. Like the lion dance it is most often seen in festive celebrations. Many Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity, as part of a trend started in the 1970s. Another...
and lion dance
Lion dance
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people...
s. Every year, 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...
fair will be organized in the square in front of Tin Hau Temple. Besides, it is also a place for earthen pot gathering.
Transportation
Walk along Pui To RoadPui To Road
Pui To Road is a east-west road in Hong Kong. There is a cross in the middle part of Pui To Road with Tuen Mun Channel. Pui To Road is about 1 km...
at Exit A of Tuen Mun Station (West Rail Line) towards Tin Hau Road. The journey takes about 5 minutes. One may take LRT route No. 610, 615 or 615P and alight at Tsing Shan Tsuen Stop
Tsing Shan Tsuen Stop
The Tsing Shan Tsuen Stop is one of a MTR Light Rail stops. It is located on the ground at the junction of Tsing Wun Road and Yip Wong Road , east of Tsing Shan Tsuen and west of Nan Fung Industrial City in Tuen Mun District. It began service on 18 September 1988 and belongs to Zone 2...
. One may also take bus route No. 66 at Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po, or Shamshuipo, is an area of Sham Shui Po District, Hong Kong, situated in the northwestern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, north of Tai Kok Tsui, east of Cheung Sha Wan and south of Shek Kip Mei. Sham Shui Po is known for its street market for electronic devices.-History:Sham Shui Po...
(Yen Chow Street
Yen Chow Street
Yen Chow Street is a main street in Sham Shui Po of New Kowloon in Hong Kong. The street runs from hill side towards the shore. It spans from Castle Peak Road to Sham Mong Road. Its extension Yen Chow Street West spans further to the reclamation shore.-Name:The street was named after Yen Chow,...
) or No. 66M at Tsuen Wan MTR station.