TIN HAU TEMPLE

It was built in the ^19th century as a tribute to the goddess of fishermen and sailors. The temple is a fine example of traditional Chinese architecture, with its roofs adorned with mythological figures and its richly decorated altars. Close to the waterfront, it was once used as a place of prayer to ensure safe journeys at sea. During the Second World War, Stanley was bombed by the Japanese and the villagers had to take refuge here. A bomb fell in front of the temple, but failed to explode. The villagers attributed this good fortune to the goddess Tin Hau.

Tin Hau, goddess of the sea. According to legend, Tin Hau was the daughter of a fisherman living in the ^10th century. Originally from the Fujian province in southern China, she knew how to predict the weather at sea, calm the waves and help fishermen make a good catch. She died young trying to save two of her younger brothers. Some years later, fishermen claimed they had been saved from shipwreck after seeing her appear. Ships no longer sailed without her image, and in 1683 she was proclaimed Goddess of the Sea (Tin Hau). Today, Hong Kong boasts some forty temples dedicated to her, in Causeway Bay, Yau Ma Tei, Clear Water Bay and elsewhere. Originally, Hong Kong's population was mainly made up of fishermen, and all the temples were located by the sea, which explains why she became one of the territory's most venerated deities, and still is today.