Man Mo temples in Hong Kong

Man Mo temples in Hong Kong
Entrance of Man Mo Temple, Hollywood Road
Traditional Chinese文武廟
Simplified Chinese文武庙
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWénwǔmiào
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationMàhn móuh míu
JyutpingMan4 mou5 miu6
Sidney Lauman4 mo5 miu6

A Man Mo temple, or Man Mo Miu, is a temple dedicated to the Chinese folk god of literature, Man Tai (文帝), or Man Cheong (文昌), and the martial god Mo Tai (武帝), or Kwan Tai (關帝). The two deities were commonly patronized by scholars and students seeking progress in their study or ranking in the civil examinations in the Ming and Qing dynasties.[1] There are several Man Mo temples in Hong Kong, the best-known of which is the one in Sheung Wan.

Sheung Wan

Man Mo Temple complex, Hollywood Road. From left to right: Man Mo Temple, Lit Shing Temple, Kung So.

The largest Man Mo temple in Hong Kong is at 124–126 Hollywood Road, in Sheung Wan,[2] built in 1847.[1] It is part of a complex that comprises three adjacent blocks: Man Mo Temple, Lit Shing Temple (No. 128 Hollywood Road),[3] and Kung So.

The Man Mo Temple, the main building of the complex, is dedicated to the civil god Man Cheong and the martial god Kwan Tai. Lit Shing Kung (列聖宫) is for the worship of all heavenly gods. Kung So (公所), to its west, was an assembly hall where community affairs and disputes were settled.[4]

In 1908, the temple was officially entrusted to the Tung Wah Board of Directors.[4] The temple has since been managed by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.[3] It was graded as a Grade I historic building in 1993, and it is now a declared monument.[5]

Tai Po

Man Mo Temple, Tai Po

The Man Mo Temple on Fu Shin Street (富善街), Tai Po, was built in 1893,[6] to mark the founding of Tai Wo Shi (Tai Wo Market Town, now commonly known as Tai Po Market). It has been listed as a declared monument.[7]

Lantau

Man Mo Temple, Lantau

The Man Mo temple at Pak Ngan Heung (白銀鄉), in Mui Wo, Lantau Island,[8] underwent a major renovation in 1960 and was rebuilt in 2001.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Brief Information on Proposed Grade I Items, pp.31-32 Archived 13 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Sheung Wan: Get to Know Hong Kong's Coolest Neighborhood". 6 June 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b Tung Wah Group of Hospitals – Services Centres Information
  4. ^ a b Introduction to 1444 Historic Buildings, p.16 Archived 13 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Man Mo Temple Compound, Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan Archived 31 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ The Tai Po Book, p.37 Archived 9 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Man Mo Temple, Tai Po
  8. ^ Exploring Islands. Man Mo Temple, Mui Wo. Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Man Mo Temple, Pak Ngan Heung, Mui Wo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Man Mo Temples in Hong Kong.
Man Mo Temple, Sheung Wan
Man Mo Temple, Tai Po
Man Mo Temple, Lantau

22°17′02″N 114°09′01″E / 22.283982°N 114.150239°E / 22.283982; 114.150239