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Cultural Exploration on Sung Wong Toi and Tin Hau Temple

2021-11-18

The “Sea Goddess and Voyagers – Tin Hau Temple, Sung Wong Toi, Kowloon City Cultural Exploration” tour organized by Maritime Silk Road Society (MSRS) was held on 18 November.

The tour featured an introduction to Hong Kong’s role in the Maritime Silk Road presented by Prof Au Chi Kin, Assistant Professor of Department of History at Hong Kong Shue Yan University, and archaeologists Dr Ji Wei Wei and Dr Peter Wong; a tour of antiquities and monuments in Tin Hau and Kowloon City; and experiencing Chiu Chow culture and cuisines with Mr Anven Wu, Board Director of Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations. Ms Lo Kai Yin, Honorary Advisor of MSRS, was one of the participants.

The tour started at Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay. Prof Au introduced its history and the difference between the Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay and the other Tin Hau Temples in Hong Kong, in terms of the architecture and worshipping. According to legends, the Tai clan found a red stone shaped like an incense burner on the shore at Causeway Bay. Believing that it had been delivered by the Sea Goddess, they then built a shrine, which became extremely popular with fishermen in the area so that the Tai clan raised funds to build a temple on the same site.

The tour then headed to the Sung Wong Toi MTR station to see the Display on “Treasures from Sacred Hill: Song-Yuan Archaeological Discoveries at Sung Wong Toi”. The display features antiquities such as a celadon incense burner from Yuan Dynasty, copper coins from Sung Dynasty, and other tools from late 19th century.

After having an authentic Chiu Chow lunch in Chong Fat Chiu Chow Restaurant, the tour visited the Hau Wong Temple. The temple is one of the very few temples in Hong Kong maintaining a rich collection of historical relics relating to the garrison of the Kowloon Walled City, such as an incense burner donated by Xu Wenshen, the first Assistant Magistrate of Kowloon, in 1847, as well as the stone inscription with the character of 鶴 (crane), dating from 1888. The participants learned about the origin and history of Hau Wong Temple. The tour then visited the Grade 3 Historic Building “Stonehouses Garden”, where Mr Anven Wu further explained the Chiu Chow culture and the relationship between Hong Kong and Chiu Chow in history. Then the tour proceeded to the Kowloon Walled City Park where the participants learned about the historic development of Kowloon City – from a military outpost to a lawless enclave.

The programme ended with free sampling of traditional Chiu Chow snacks such as taro cake and chive lard cake.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

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