Tam Kung
Encyclopedia
Tam Kung or Tam Tai Sin (譚大仙) is a sea deity worshiped in Hong Kong
and Macau
.
In Chinese folk legends
, Tam Kung was one of gods who could forecast the weather. He was born in Huizhou
Prefecture. It was said that he could cure patients in his childhood. Tam Kung became an immortal in heaven at the age of twenty in the Nine-dragon Mountain in Huizhou. He was granted an honor in the Qing Dynasty. People whose ancestral home are in Huizhou or Chaoshan
of Guangdong
province worship Tam Kung most sincerely.
The oldest temple dedicated to Tam Kung in Hong Kong is located at the end of Shau Kei Wan Man Street East, in A Kung Ngam
, Shau Kei Wan
. It was originally a small shrine. Local people raised money to construct it in 1905 and reconstructed it many times afterwards. The temples is a Grade I historic building.
The statue of Tam Kung, which was first worshipped among the other gods in the temple, was formerly positioned in the Tam Kung Temple in Tam Kung Road in Kowloon City
. There is a big rock in front of the temple and is believed to be Tam Kung's magic stamp. Local residents and fishermen are the sincere worshippers. On the birthday of Tam Kung (8th day of the 4th month in Chinese calendar
), they will have a celebration and play a so called "kung fu" show which is a major part of the celebration. A parade and dragon dance
are also held on this occasion.
and they kept the tradition of worshipping Tam Kung after they settled on the island. The Temple celebrates the Tam Kung Festival on the 8th day of the fourth Lunar month.
. This Temple was built in 1901 after the previous one located on a slope near the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital
in Happy Valley, in the former Wong Nai Chung Village, was demolished during urban development. A Tin Hau Temple
is situated at the back of this temple. The temple has been managed by the Chinese Temples Committee
since 1929.
, Macau
. It was built in 1862.
, there is also a temple to the god Tam Kung. At 1713 Government Street is a tall, slim building established by the Yen Wo Society. Fifty-two steps up to the top floor is the oldest Chinese Temple in Canada. The statue you will find there was originally kept in a wooden box at Market Square, and it was moved to the temple by its keeper after Tam Kung appeared to him in a dream. Visitors are welcome most days, and visitors can make donations for good health and the upkeep of the shrine.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
.
In Chinese folk legends
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
, Tam Kung was one of gods who could forecast the weather. He was born in Huizhou
Huizhou
Huizhou , historically known as Waichow, is a city located in central Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. Part of the Pearl River Delta, Huizhou borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the west, Shaoguan to the north, Heyuan to the northeast, Shanwei to the east, Shenzhen...
Prefecture. It was said that he could cure patients in his childhood. Tam Kung became an immortal in heaven at the age of twenty in the Nine-dragon Mountain in Huizhou. He was granted an honor in the Qing Dynasty. People whose ancestral home are in Huizhou or Chaoshan
Chaoshan
Cháoshàn refers to the linguistic and cultural region in the east of Guangdong, a southeastern province of China. This region is the origin of the Min Nan dialect Teochew. The area is known as Teochew for most people overseas, although it also consists of the cities of Shantou and Jieyang...
of Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
province worship Tam Kung most sincerely.
Shau Kei Wan
A Kung Ngam
A Kung Ngam is a village and an area in northeast Shau Kei Wan in the north of Hong Kong Island. It contains a fish terminal market and several temples and the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence.A fire broke out in the early morning of 31 October 2005...
, Shau Kei Wan
Shau Kei Wan
Shau Kei Wan or Shaukeiwan, Shaukiwan is a town in Eastern District, Hong Kong. Literally, Shau Kei means a pail, and Wan implies that the town is developed along the coast. Nowadays it is a relatively densely populated town compared with some developing areas.-Name:The name Shau Kei Wan comes...
. It was originally a small shrine. Local people raised money to construct it in 1905 and reconstructed it many times afterwards. The temples is a Grade I historic building.
The statue of Tam Kung, which was first worshipped among the other gods in the temple, was formerly positioned in the Tam Kung Temple in Tam Kung Road in Kowloon City
Kowloon City
Kowloon City is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is named after the Kowloon Walled City, and is administratively part of Kowloon City District....
. There is a big rock in front of the temple and is believed to be Tam Kung's magic stamp. Local residents and fishermen are the sincere worshippers. On the birthday of Tam Kung (8th day of the 4th month in Chinese calendar
Chinese calendar
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
), they will have a celebration and play a so called "kung fu" show which is a major part of the celebration. A parade and dragon dance
Dragon dance
Dragon dance is a form of traditional dance and performance in Chinese culture. Like the lion dance it is most often seen in festive celebrations. Many Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity, as part of a trend started in the 1970s. Another...
are also held on this occasion.
Ping Chau
The Tam Tai Sin Temple, in Sha Tau, Tung Ping Chau was built around 1877. Many early residents of Tung Ping Chau were from ShantouShantou
Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of...
and they kept the tradition of worshipping Tam Kung after they settled on the island. The Temple celebrates the Tam Kung Festival on the 8th day of the fourth Lunar month.
Happy Valley
A Tam Kung Temple is located at No.9, Blue Pool Road, Happy ValleyHappy Valley, Hong Kong
Happy Valley is a mostly residential suburb of Hong Kong, located in the northern part of Hong Kong Island. Administratively, it is part of Wan Chai District....
. This Temple was built in 1901 after the previous one located on a slope near the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital
Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital
Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital , or HKSH, is a private hospital established in 1922 in Happy Valley, Hong Kong.It is one of the most famous of the Hong Kong hospitals, renowned for its high quality hospital services and comfortable accommodation for patients. All clients can also choose their...
in Happy Valley, in the former Wong Nai Chung Village, was demolished during urban development. A Tin Hau Temple
Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong
Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
is situated at the back of this temple. The temple has been managed by the Chinese Temples Committee
Chinese Temples Committee
The Chinese Temples Committee is a statutory body in Hong Kong established under the Chinese Temples Ordinance . It is mainly responsible for the operation and management of twenty-four temples directly under its management. It also handles temple registration...
since 1929.
Macau
There is also a Tam Kung Temple at Rua de Cinco de Outubro in ColoaneColoane
Coloane is one of the two main islands of the Macau Special Administrative Region, located directly south of Macau's other main island, Taipa , and east of Hengqin Island of Zhuhai in Guangdong province....
, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. It was built in 1862.
Canada
In Victoria, BC, CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, there is also a temple to the god Tam Kung. At 1713 Government Street is a tall, slim building established by the Yen Wo Society. Fifty-two steps up to the top floor is the oldest Chinese Temple in Canada. The statue you will find there was originally kept in a wooden box at Market Square, and it was moved to the temple by its keeper after Tam Kung appeared to him in a dream. Visitors are welcome most days, and visitors can make donations for good health and the upkeep of the shrine.
See also
- Mazu (goddess) and Tin Hau temples in Hong KongTin Hau temples in Hong KongOver 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
- Hung ShingHung ShingHung Shing , also known as Hung Shing Ye and Tai Wong , was a government official in the Tang Dynasty named Hung Hei serving Pun Yue in present-day Guangdong, China....
and Hung Shing TempleHung Shing TempleHung Shing Temples or Tai Wong Temples are temples dedicated to Hung Shing. Hung Shing temples have been widely built in southern China, especially Guangdong province and in Hong Kong.-Existing temples:... - Places of worship in Hong KongPlaces of worship in Hong KongHong Kong counts approximately 600 temples, shrines and monasteries. While Buddhism and Taoism are the most widely practiced religions, most religions are represented in the Special Administrative Region.-Buddhist temples and monasteries:...