Hung Shing Temple, Hang Mei Tsuen
Dublin Core
Subject
Temple
Description
Historical Interest:
The Hung Shing Temple (洪聖宮) in Hang Mei Tsuen (坑尾村) of Ping Shan (屏山), Yuen Long, was first erected in the 29th year of the Qianlong (乾隆, 1764) reign of the Qing (清) dynasty as a bronze gong in the temple has the dating engraved on it. The temple was reconstructed in the 5th year of the Tongzhi (同治, 1866) reign of the same dynasty as its name board above the entrance shows. Hang Mei Tsuen was one of the major villages set up by the Tang (鄧) clan which first ancestor Yuen-ching (元禎) settled in Ping Shan as early as in 1216. Hung Shing is a sea-faring god reputed to give protection to sea
traders and fishermen. As Ping Shan was in low-lying areas threatened by typhoons which would bring floods, Hung Shing was their patron deity to tender peace and security. Other than Hung Shing, Earth God (土地) and Chun Fu (巡撫) statues are placed respectively on the right and left bays of the main hall for worshipped. The former is a common deity for giving soil fertility and protection to the villagers whilst the latter is for the regional security.
Architectural Merit:
The temple is a Qing vernacular building of a two-hall-one-courtyard plan having a three bays layout. It has a symmetrical design with the Hung Shing deity housed at the altar on the central axis in the middle of the main hall facing the entrance at the other far end of the building. The building is constructed of green bricks with its walls and granite columns to support its pitched roofs of timber rafters, purlins and clay tiles. The roof of the main hall rests on a post-and-beam (抬樑式) wooden structure and concrete columns. The walls are in an eleven courses of stretchers to one course of headers (十一順一丁)
bonding. Geometric and peach mouldings are on the main ridges. Wall friezes on the front façade are with plants and ruilong (夔龍) patterns. Fascia boards are with carvings of plants, flowers and calligraphy.
Rarity:
It is a Hung Shing temple to witness the settlement of the Tangs in Ping Shan.
Built Heritage Value:
It is a temple of considerable built heritage value.
Authenticity:
The entire authenticity is kept despite some minor defects.
Group Value
The temple has group value with other historic buildings in the village including the Kun Ting Study Hall (覲廷書室), the Tang Ancestral Hall (鄧氏宗祠) and others.
Social Value, & Local Interest:
Hung Shing Festival (洪聖誕) on the 13th day of the second lunar month will be celebrated at the temple. Those for the birthdays of the two other deities would be on the 20th day of the first lunar month by an Earth God Birthday Committee (土地誕會) and on the 22nd day of the sixth lunar month by the Chun Fu Birthday Committee (巡撫老爺會) respectively. The two celebrations are no longer held in the temple. The mini statues of the three deities would be invited to attend celebrations and activities of the Da Chius (打醮) held in Yuen Long villages and in Kam Tin. The temple has a number of plaques and boards recording its past renovations starting from the Qianlong reign to the one in 1963.
The Hung Shing Temple (洪聖宮) in Hang Mei Tsuen (坑尾村) of Ping Shan (屏山), Yuen Long, was first erected in the 29th year of the Qianlong (乾隆, 1764) reign of the Qing (清) dynasty as a bronze gong in the temple has the dating engraved on it. The temple was reconstructed in the 5th year of the Tongzhi (同治, 1866) reign of the same dynasty as its name board above the entrance shows. Hang Mei Tsuen was one of the major villages set up by the Tang (鄧) clan which first ancestor Yuen-ching (元禎) settled in Ping Shan as early as in 1216. Hung Shing is a sea-faring god reputed to give protection to sea
traders and fishermen. As Ping Shan was in low-lying areas threatened by typhoons which would bring floods, Hung Shing was their patron deity to tender peace and security. Other than Hung Shing, Earth God (土地) and Chun Fu (巡撫) statues are placed respectively on the right and left bays of the main hall for worshipped. The former is a common deity for giving soil fertility and protection to the villagers whilst the latter is for the regional security.
Architectural Merit:
The temple is a Qing vernacular building of a two-hall-one-courtyard plan having a three bays layout. It has a symmetrical design with the Hung Shing deity housed at the altar on the central axis in the middle of the main hall facing the entrance at the other far end of the building. The building is constructed of green bricks with its walls and granite columns to support its pitched roofs of timber rafters, purlins and clay tiles. The roof of the main hall rests on a post-and-beam (抬樑式) wooden structure and concrete columns. The walls are in an eleven courses of stretchers to one course of headers (十一順一丁)
bonding. Geometric and peach mouldings are on the main ridges. Wall friezes on the front façade are with plants and ruilong (夔龍) patterns. Fascia boards are with carvings of plants, flowers and calligraphy.
Rarity:
It is a Hung Shing temple to witness the settlement of the Tangs in Ping Shan.
Built Heritage Value:
It is a temple of considerable built heritage value.
Authenticity:
The entire authenticity is kept despite some minor defects.
Group Value
The temple has group value with other historic buildings in the village including the Kun Ting Study Hall (覲廷書室), the Tang Ancestral Hall (鄧氏宗祠) and others.
Social Value, & Local Interest:
Hung Shing Festival (洪聖誕) on the 13th day of the second lunar month will be celebrated at the temple. Those for the birthdays of the two other deities would be on the 20th day of the first lunar month by an Earth God Birthday Committee (土地誕會) and on the 22nd day of the sixth lunar month by the Chun Fu Birthday Committee (巡撫老爺會) respectively. The two celebrations are no longer held in the temple. The mini statues of the three deities would be invited to attend celebrations and activities of the Da Chius (打醮) held in Yuen Long villages and in Kam Tin. The temple has a number of plaques and boards recording its past renovations starting from the Qianlong reign to the one in 1963.
Creator
Date
Rights
Unknown
Type
Physical Object Item Type Metadata
Transportation
About 20 min walk from the Tin Shui Wai MTR station https://goo.gl/maps/eDRFZAy8GxQ2
Grading status
2
Citation
Tang (鄧) clan, “Hung Shing Temple, Hang Mei Tsuen,” CCCH9051 Group 5, accessed January 10, 2025, https://learning.hku.hk/ccch9051/group-5/items/show/3.