Tai Wong Kung Temple, Aberdeen

Temple

They are small temples and shrines of the "Guardians of Aberdeen" group.

Before the land reclamation main thoroughfare of Aberdeen was what is now called Old Main Street. This sharply inclined and meandering road climbs up through the older part of Aberdeen and runs parallel to the newer Main Road. At the foot of the street is a group of shrines that are dedicated to various gods and once served as the first place one had to pass through when entering the village.

These old god shrines still look after the area and are the guardians of Aberdeen.

All the familiar faces can be found, plus a few not so common ones. If you stand at the mouth of the street, you see an array that not only includes the shrines, but also a large gourd-shaped furnace for burning god money.

On the left hand corner of the road is a shrine to Pak Tai, the Northern Emperor. He is a winter god, as he is the Supreme Ruler of the Jade Void. The shrine is one of the largest and is similar to a temple in design.

Hung Shing has a shrine called Tai Wong Kung Miu. The raised temple has an incense brazier before it and a pair of guardian lions. The sea god’s shrine is surrounded by a few other shrines. All of the small shrines call themselves temples (miu), but that seems a bit of a stretch.

To the right of Tai Wong is a shine to Dei Mu Yun Gwan. This is an unusual figure and not normally found around Hong Kong. Her name means Earth Mother Goddess, but the more familiar To Dei Kung (Earth God) also has a shrine in the cluster.

Shrines to Wong Tai Sin and Tin Hau occupy the lower levels on the left of the Hung Shing shrine and above them is a large tiger statue that represents Bak Fu, the White Tiger God who can dispel curses and keep evil forces at bay.

Behind the tiger is a small shrine called San Bak Miu Tong, literally, Mountain Grandfather Temple. Inside the tiny space are a number of mysterious gods wrapped in cloth, much like at the Sam Yi Gwan Miu in Lan Kwai Fong.

Another interesting shrine is opposite this group. On the other side of the Road is a shrine called Yong Shu Gong Gong Miu. This means Banyan Grandfather Temple and seems dedicated to the old banyan tree that grows next to it. Inside, a number of Buddhist statues can be found and in the centre is Tei Chong Wong, the Earth Treasury Bodhisattva, who is responsible for the dead. Next to this, a shrine for Kwan Tai and Kwun Yum is next and then two unnamed shrines with multiple gods inside.

At the top of all of the shrines is a temple that seems always to be locked.

Overlooking the old shrines is a temple on small platform. This later addition is dedicated to a goddess named Ng Wa Si Mo. The goddess is said to have appeared in Aberdeen in the 1990s and is a doctor with the ability to heal. Apparently lightning struck and left 11 god images on the ground. The ramshackle temple was built by the locals to house a few shrines to these gods and specifically to the local goddess. A patchwork roof used a tree for support and joss coils smouldered away under it until a fire caused the roof to be removed a few years ago.

These shrines on Old Main Street are not normally on the map for visitors and are usually no more than a footnote in any guidebook. There is almost no information available about their history and a comprehensive study and discussion with the temple keepers and locals would make for interesting reading.

It is sites like this one that, while popular with locals, are at most risk of destruction due to their hodge podge construction and unknown provenance. This place deserves more recognition from visitors and shows the unique nature of the Chinese Folk Religion in Hong Kong.

Unknown

To arrive at Aberdeen or Aberdeen Harbour, travellers can take buses 7, 37A, 37B, 37X, 38, 40P, 41A, 42, 42C, 48, 70, 70A, 71, 71P, 72, 73, 73P, 76, 77, 77X, 78, 91, 91A, 93, 93A, 93C, 94, 94A, 95, 95C, 98, 107, 107P, 170, 973, A10, N72 or N170, and alight at the bus stop "Aberdeen Promenade, Aberdeen Praya Road". This bus stop is located directly beside Aberdeen Harbour.

Aberdeen is served by Pok Fu Lam Road, Aberdeen Tunnel and Nam Fung Road through Wong Chuk Hang. Nam Fung Road connects Deep Water Bay Road, which also connects Wong Nai Chung Gap Road to Happy Valley. A bridge called Ap Lei Chau Bridge links Aberdeen with Ap Lei Chau over Aberdeen Harbour.

Aberdeen Station, of the proposed South Island Line West Section of the MTR will be in Aberdeen. Currently the closest stations are Lei Tung and Wong Chuk Hang on the South Island Line.

There are regular ferries to Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, Po Toi Island and to Ap Lei ChauMain Street (near Lei Tung Station Exit A1) from Aberdeen.

Transport to and from the boats in the harbour is usually provided by sampans. These can also be hired to Lamma Island.

https://i2.wp.com/zolimacitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Zolima_Aberdeen_Map_final.SD_.jpg?ssl=1

Not listed