This Tin Hau Temple in Joss House Bay - 大廟灣 天后廟 , HK is the fourth of my Powerpoint series on Chinese architecture. The others were the Forbidden City - Beijing , Cheng Hoon Teng – Chinese temple in Malacca and the Nan Lian Garden – Diamond Hill Hong Kong. This temple is unfamiliar to most who live in Hong Kong. This is because of temple is situated at a very remote location, in Hong Kong. There were no village around. In the past you can only go to the temple by boat but in recent years a new road was built near the temple, linking it to the Clear Water Bay. The most interesting thing about this temple is that it has a very long history, some 800 year old much longer than the present building. Personally I know the temple very well. I went there every year when I was a kid, on the Tin Hau festival. It was not so much for the religious pilgrimage but as a day in the country having a picnic on the hills with family and friends. The Chinese attitude toward religion is much more pragmatic than dogmatic, at least as far as the general population is concerned. It has more to do with rituals than beliefs. To me the temple is a testament to the developing maritime trade in China during the Song Dynasty some 1000 years ago, when the Silk Road was cut off from China. Many of the maritime trades then were inter-provincial trades rather than the overseas trades.

1. First created 19 Mar 2014. Version 1.0 - 29 Mar 2014. Jerry Tse. London.
Tin Hau Temple
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Available free for non-commercial and personal use.
Joss House Bay (Fat Tong Mum), Hong Kong
Architecture

2. Chinese Religion
The meeting of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Temples that
worship the three beliefs are called the Three Saints Temple.
Chinese religion is made up of
three main components :-
Buddhism, the Chinese
version is called Zen (Chan),
which put more emphasis on
meditation as the path to
enlightenment.
Taoist (Daoism), derived from
the ancient mythical ethics,
philosophy of Laozi, with
emphasis in harmony &
balance.
Folk religion, the worship of
folk heroes, ancestors, nature
etc.

3. Tin Hau 天后 (also Mazu 媽祖) Legend
Tin Hau 天后 meaning the Queen of Heaven also
known as Mazu 媽祖 (also spelt as Matsu) is the
Chinese patron of the Sea, who protects seafarers.
She is widely worshiped in south-eastern coastal region
of China (Zhejiang, Fujain, Guangdong) and Taiwan.
Tin Hau temples followed the Chinese immigrants to
other countries like Australia, the west coast of USA
and all over Southeast Asia.
Like many gods and goddesses in the Chinese folk
religion, Tin Hau began life as a mortal. She was born
in 960 (Song Dynasty), in Mezhou 湄州 in Putian
Country 莆田縣, Fujian province, at the time when the
Chinese maritime trade took off.
Her name was Lin Monlang 林默娘 and she was born
into a family of fisherman. According to the legend, she
fell into a trance at home one day, while her father and
brothers were swamped in a rough sea. She ran to the
shore and prayed for the lives, while pointing to the
direction of the family boat. The incidence ended with
the return of her father and 3 of the 4 brothers, while all
other fishing boats were lost.
An idol of the goddess in the temple..

4. Distribution of Tin Hau Temples (in numbers)
One third of the world‟s Tin Hau (Mazu) temples are in Taiwan. Most of Tin Hau temples are concentrated in the
Southeast coastal region of China. There is no Tin Hau temples in the interior of China. (source – Wikipedia).

5. The Tin Hau Temple at Joss House Bay (Fat Tong Mum), Hong Kong
The Tin Hau Temple at Joss House Bay has a very long history dating back to 1266, during the Song Dynasty. It was built
only 279 years after the death of Tin Hau by Lam Tao-yee and his brother. They were salt merchants from Fujian, who
gave thanks to Tin Hau after survived through a stormy journey at sea.

6. The temple overlooks the sea at Joss House Bay, with an unobstructed view to the distant mountains on the east side of
Hong Kong island. Most Tin Hau temples were built by the shore to allow the passing seamen easy access.
The oldest temple in Hong Kong founded in 1266

7. On the left is a copy of the stone carving (1274) at the site of the Tin Hau temple. The carving was made by the three
officers of the Salt Administration from Quanzhou, which was the main seaport of the Song Dynasty for the southern
maritime trade at the time. This is the oldest stele on the Guangdong coast.

8. On the 23 March on the Lunar calendar, is the festival of Tin Hau, which celebrates her birthday. It is an important day for
the Tin Hau temple in Joss House Bay. Fleet of decorated ships converge from different points in Hong Kong to worship Tin
Hau at the temple.
Convoy of junks sailing to Tin Hau temple. 1968 Ferry 1981.
Ships mooring in the bay. 1981. Boat 2012.
Historic Tin Hau Festival photos

9. On the day of the festival upwards of 40000 to 50000 people worship in the temple. Taken in 1981.
Historic Tin Hau Festival photos

10. Pilgrims took to sampans to reach the beach. 1968. Large crowd of pilgrims at the festival. 1981.
Pilgrim paying for a face wash, in hot weather. 1981. Pilgrim burning offerings at the temple. 1981.
Historic Tin Hau Festival photos

11. The temple was rebuilt in 1925 and restored 1963.and 1990. It is thought that the first temple on the site was built in 1266,
making it one of the oldest Tin Hau temple site in China.
The forecourt of the temple with its offering burners and alter. During the festival most of the worships were in the
forecourt. There is not enough room inside the temple.

12. The two-hall architectural plan can be clearly seen from the side of the temple. It is complicated by two rows of five
rooms, making up each ‘hall’.
Architecture Design

13. Architecture Design
Note how the front hall is integrated with the back hall with a covering roof and a pavilion on top for the smoke to escape.

14. The Terrace
The terrace was built, providing a large forecourt for worships outside the temple.

15. The Terrace
There are two large incinerators in the forecourt for burning paper offerings to the goddess. .

16. The Roof and the external decorations
Two dragons on the main ridge of the roof. Note the roof is covered with green glazed tiles not yellow tiles as in the
Forbidden City. Chinese dragon has a pearl in its mouth, here represented by the two red balls.

17. The Roof and the external decorations
A mythical beast on the roof to ward off evil spirits. This one has two large boar-like tusks.

18. The Roof and the external decorations
A mythical beast on the main ridge of the roof with a fish body and a dragon‟s head with its tongue sticking out.

19. Entrance decorations
Four characters above at the entrance, with the words “Let Peace be in the Country and its people” . These 4 words are
often found at the entrance of other Chinese temples.

20. Who are these three persons painted on the porch with „official hats‟. Are they the three officials of the Song Dynasty from
Quanzhou? What is in the pot? Could it be salt?.
Entrance decorations

21. A small carved stone lion on the porch to ward off evil spirita. This one is the male with a ball under his paw..
Entrance decorations

22. Guardians on the door holding their weapons. There are banners of verse under two red lanterns. The banners described
Tin Hau as the mother from the Putian County and her blessings.
Entrance decorations

23. External Front
As part of the temple there is a small shrine at the corner for Buddhist worshippers.

24. Floor tiles at the entrance to the temple.
The Entrance

25. A screen at the entrance, the top panels were carved with figures of the 8 Immortals (Taoist gods).
Entrance decorations

26. Beautiful wood carvings on the top of the screen.
Entrance decorations

27. The interior of the main worshiping area. Note the curly incenses directly under the pavilion to allow the smoke to escape.
The Interior

28. Ready-made paper offerings of treasures on sale to the pilgrim for worship .
The Interior

29. The bell was made in 1840 confirming the restoration of an old temple on the same site.
The Interior

30. The main altar in the temple with Tin Hau accompanied by two attendants. Note the registry in the front for worshipers.
The Interior

31. Tin Hau always dressed with modified emperor crown with pearls and an operatic head dress, instead of the Phoenix Crown
(for queens).
The Interior

32. The drawing of a dragon with five claws behind to show that the temple was restored by the order of the Qing emperor to
restore all Tin Hau temples.
The Interior

33. In the temple there were two wooden models of gunboat, with a shine of Tin Hau and sails.
The Interior

34. In front of the main altar were two sets of figures – Tin Hau‟s demon aids and two female attendants.
The Interior

35. Tin Hau has two aids (or generals). They are always depicted as demons – the “Thousand Miles Eyes” ( 千里眼 ) and
“With-the-Wind Ear” (順風耳 ) to help Tin Hau to keep an eye and an ear on the seafarers.
The Interior

36. A female attendant as part of the entourage of Tin Hau, holding a fan.
The Interior

37. Apart from Tin Hau altar, a minor goddess The Fairy of the Golden Flower (金花娘娘) also has an altar here. She is the
Patron Saint of Child Birth, worshipped mainly in South of China, Guangdong, Guangxi etc.
The Interior

38. Embroidered silk banners donated to the temple by the faithful.
The Interior

39. A story telling relief panel on the wall, decorated with flower motifs painted just under the ceiling, together with a row of
decorating roof tiles.
The Interior

40. The moon gateway to the admin part of the temple.
The Interior

41. This moon gateway leads to other shrines in the temple.
The Interior

42. An altar for the Laughing Buddha or Budai, identified as an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha. He is always
depicted as an obese, bald man wearing a robe. He represents contentment in the Chinese culture.
The Extensions

43. The painted top of the Laughing Buddha altar..
The Extensions

44. An unusual feature of the temple is this
roof pavilion which unites the outer and
the inner halls to form a single continuous
space.
The pavilion is also used as a vent for the
incense smoke to escape.
The Extensions

45. A story telling plaster relief on the wall.
The Extensions

46. This is the bedroom of Tin Hau, with an altar for the goddess. The faithful believes fumbling lotus seeds under the colourful
guilt in the bedroom (also called the Dragon Bed) will bring babies to the family or red envelopes of lucky money (Laisee) will
bring them prosperity in the coming year.
The Extensions

47. Finally, by the doorway as we left was the shrine of the Location god, who is the guardian of the locality. Their shrines is
always situated near the floor. He is entrusted with the task of carrying messages to other gods.

48. All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners.
Available free for non-commercial and personal use.
Music – Ava Maria – Album Guitar Mood
The
End
Painted guardians on the entrance door and the view of the Joss House Bay facing the temple..
Dedicated to my brothers and sisters.