Hung Shing Temple, Wan Chai

The Hung Shing Temple in Wan Chai, Hong Kong is one of several temples dedicated to Hung Shing in the territory.

Hung Shing Temple
洪聖古廟
Hung Shing Temple, Wan Chai
Religion
AffiliationChinese folk religion
DistrictWan Chai
DeityHung Shing
FestivalBirthday of Kwun Yum
Governing bodyTung Wah Group of Hospitals
Location
CountryHong Kong
Architecture
Date establishedcirca 1847
Hung Shing Temple, Wan Chai
Traditional Chinese洪聖古廟
Portal
Hung Shing Temple in Queen's Road East. The white building on the right houses a Kwun Yum temple, added in 1867. The first floor with a green window is a later addition.[1]

Location

The temple is located at Nos. 129–131 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Tai Wong Street West and Tai Wong Street East intersect with Queen's Road East across the street from the temple.[2] The two streets derive their name from the temple, as "Tai Wong" is an alternate name for Hung Shing.[3] The temple was originally built next to the shoreline, facing the sea,[1] but as the consequence of successive land reclamations, it is now surrounded by clusters of residential and commercial buildings.[4]

History

The temple was probably built in 1847 and may have existed previously as a shrine. Renovations were recorded to have been carried out in 1857, 1860, 1867, 1949 and 1992. An annexe Kwun Yum temple was constructed to its left in 1867.[1]

Features

The temple was built with boulders from the hillside and its right portion and back are sitting on rocks. It is a simple one-hall building with a granite platform right in front of its façade. The roof of the platform is supported by elaborate granite columns and accessing staircases are built on either ends rather than in the middle facing the temple entrance. The ceramic decorations of Shiwan kiln on the roof date from 1909. Together with Hung Shing, other deities worshiped there include Madame Kam Fa (金花娘娘), Pau Kung and Shing Wong.[1]

Conservation

The management of the Temple has been delegated to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals[5] by the Chinese Temples Committee[2] since pre-war times.[3] It has been listed as a Grade I historic building[6] since 1987[1] and it is part of the Wan Chai Heritage Trail, established in 2009.[7]

Festivals

Worshippers of Hung Shing go to pray in the temple on the 1st and the 15th day of every lunar month and on the birthday of Kwun Yum, the Goddess of Mercy.[4]

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gollark: It seems obvious enough.
gollark: How mean.
gollark: I guess it might consider the wither "yours" and allow it to damage stuff, but still.
gollark: Can withers actually damage claimed stuff anyway?

References
  1. "Historic Building appraisal : Tsang Tai Uk" (PDF). Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  2. "Chinese Temples Committee". Ctc.org.hk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  3. Archived 13 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Hong Kong Fun in 18 Districts – Welcome to 18 Districts". Government of Hong Kong. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  5. "TWGHs / Service Centres Information". Tungwah.org.hk. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. "List of Graded Historic buildings in Hong Kong" (PDF). Government of Hong Kong. 6 November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  7. Archived 22 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine

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