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Deities


Che Kung - General Che (車公)

Che Kung was said to be a great general in the Song Dynasty (宋朝). He was honoured by the emperor for his great merits in suppressing a rebellion in southern China. After his death, people began worshipping him for his loyalty and bravery.

Hau Wong - Marquis Prince (侯王)

Hau Wong refers to Yeung Leung-jit (楊亮節), a loyal and courageous general. Despite his failing health, he remained in the army to protect the last emperor of Southern Song Dynasty (南宋) who took refuge southwards in Kowloon.

Hung Shing - a God of the Sea (洪聖)

Hung Shing was originally a government official named Hung Hei in Tang Dynasty (唐朝). He promoted the study of astronomy, and geography and established an observatory to observe the meteorological changes. His devotion to work made him die at a young age. After his death, the reigning emperor gave him the posthumous title of "Kwong Lee Hung Shing Tai Wong" (廣利洪聖大王). Legend has it that Hung Shing continued to guard the people against natural disasters on numerous occasions after his death. The government then built temples to worship him as the God of Southern Sea.

Kwun Yum (also named as Guan Yin) - Goddess of Mercy (觀音)

Kwun Yum or Kwun Sai Yum (觀世音) is known for centuries as a deity of sympathy, compassion and mercy, hearing the pleas of those who are suffering. She is worshipped by people of both the Taoist and Buddhist religions. Kwun Yum in the earlier times was a male divinity, but evolved to be a female deity in Tang Dynasty. Arising from a saying that Kwun Yum studied Taoist teachings on lotus blossoms, some Kwun Yum Temples are also called Lin Fa Kung or Palace of Lotus Flower (蓮花宮). Temples dedicated to Kwun Yum are often alternatively known as Shui Yuet Kung or Palace of Water and Moon (水月宮), which stands for all that is quiet and peaceful and detached from the material world.

Mo Tai /Kwan Tai (also named as Guan Di) - God of War (關帝/武帝)

Mo Tai/Kwan Tai was a great warrior under Emperor Liu Bei (劉備) of the Three Kingdoms period (三國). He was a brave and upright person with a passion for reading the historical writings of Confucious about the warring period in East Zhou Dynasty. One day, while he was travelling on the road to get away from the unrests, he met Liu Bei and Zhang Fei (張飛) and became sworn brothers in the Garden of Peach (桃園) to re-establish the Han Dynasty (漢朝). In the battle of Mak Shing (麥城), he was defeated and killed. It was said that after his death, his spirit had performed many miracles to protect the natives in the vicinity of Mount Yuk Chuen (玉泉山). In gratitude for his help, the natives built a temple to worship him.

Pak Tai (also named as Bei Di) - Supreme Emperor of the North (北帝)

Pak Tai, also named Yuen Tin Sheung Tai (玄天上帝)(Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven), was a prince of the Shang Dynasty (商朝). During the fall of the Shang Dynasty, the Demon King ravaged the world. The Taoist Primeval Deity (also known as Yuen Chi Tin Chuen (元始天尊) then ordered the Jade Emperor (玉帝) to appoint Pak Tai as the commander of twelve heavenly legions to fight the evil. Pak Tai defeated the Demon King and was subsequently granted the title of Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven. In Pak Tai temples, the bronze tortoise and serpent under the feet of Pak Tai's image signifies that the good always prevails over the evil.

Sam Tai Tze/Na Cha (also named as San Taizi/Nazha) - the Third Prince (三太子/哪吒)

Sam Tai Tze who is better known by his real name "Na Cha"(哪吒). He was the third son of a great general in the Chinese legend, Fengshen Yanyi (Deification of the God)《封神演義》. After his death, Na Cha's Taoist teacher reincarnated his spirit in a lotus flower and gave him a spear and a pair of flaming wheels for him to fly about. With these weapons, he helped the future emperor of Zhou Dynasty to overturn the Shang Dynasty. The Jade Emperor awarded him to be the chief commander of the 36 Celestial Generals of the Heaven and guarded the door of the Heaven ever after. He is known for his power to overcome demons and ghosts.

Shing Wong(also named as Cheng Huang) - The City God (城隍)

Shing Wong means a god who protects a city. The responsibility of Shing Wong is to manage the ghosts and spirits of the district under his charge and to maintain peace and order in both the nether and living worlds.

Tam Kung - Sea God Lord Tam (譚公)

Tam Kung was originally a native of Wai Chow (惠州) in Guangdong Province (廣東省) during Yuan Dynasty. When he was 12 years old, he already possessed supernatural powers to command the wind and rain, and cure the sick. His ability to forecast the weather made him a popular deity among the fishermen.

As he became immortal at a young age, images of Tam Kung are made with a boyish appearance in the temples.

Tin Hau (also named as Tien Hou) - Goddess of the Sea (or literally Queen of Heaven)(天后)

Tin Hau (天后) who is also called Matsu (Mother–Ancestor) was a native of Fujian Province. She met a Taoist priest at the age of 13 who taught her how to predict the future and help those who were sick and weak. It was said that she travelled about the sea on a mattress made of reed to save the people who were being drowned. People therefore looked upon her as the goddess for safety on the sea. As Hong Kong was once a fishing village, many fishermen built temples to pray for protection from Tin Hau. Nowadays, over 100 Tin Hau Temples are built in Hong Kong, which make up the largest number of temples honoured in her name among other deities.

Yuk Wong Tai Tai - Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝)

Yuk Wong Tai Tai or the Jade Emperor is the in-charge of the Heaven. According to the Original Deeds of the Lofty Jade Emperor (高上玉皇本行集經), Jade Emperor is the son of the King of the Pure Blissful Kingdom of Lofty Heavenly Lights and Ornaments and of the Empress of Precious Moonlight. He was bright and clever when young, and kind and benevolent as a grown-up. He devoted the entire state treasury to the needy. In the Taoist world, Jade Emperor is the deity of the highest order.

 

Festivals Dates (Lunar Month) Related Temples
Che Kung Festival
車公誕
2nd January, 27th March, 6th June &
16th August
- Che Kung Temple, Sha Tin

The Gods of Five Lucks Festival
五通誕

5th January & 5th May - Shing Wong Temple, Shau Kei Wan
Jade Emperor Festival
玉皇寶誕
9th January - Yuk Wong Kung Din, Shau Kei Wan
Kwun Yum Open Treasury
觀音開庫
26th January - Kwun Yum Temple, Hung Hom
- Lin Fa Kung, Tai Hang
- Tin Hau Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Pak Tai Temple, Hok Un Kok
- Tin Hau Temple, Cha Kwo Ling
- Sam Tai Tze & Pak Tai Temple, Sham Shui Po
- Tin Hau Temple, Sham Shui Po
- Tam Kung Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Tam Kung & Tin Hau Temple, Wong Nei Chung
- Yuk Hui Temple, Wan Chai (Pak Tai Temple)
- Tin Hau Temple, Aberdeen
- Tin Hau Temple, To Kwa Wan
Insects Waken
驚蟄
5th March 2022*
6th March 2023*
- Pak Tai Temple, Hok Un Kok
- Tin Hau Temple, To Kwa Wan
- Shing Wong Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Sam Tai Tze & Pak Tai Temples, Sham Shui Po
Kwun Yum Festival
觀音誕
19th February (Birthday),
19th June (Day of Enlightenment),
19th September (Day of Ascension) &
19th November (Day of Assumption as Sea Goddess)
- Lin Fa Kung, Tai Hang
- Kwun Yum Temple, Hung Hom
- Kwun Yum Temple, Ap Lei Chau
- Tin Hau Temple, Shau Kei Wan
Earth God Festival
土地誕
2nd February &
10th May
- Shing Wong Temple, Shau Kei Wan
Man Cheung Festival
文昌誕
3rd February - Kwan Tai Temple, Sham Shui Po
- Hung Shing Temple, Ap Lei Chau
Hung Shing Festival
洪聖誕
13th February - Hung Shing Temple, Ap Lei Chau
- Hung Shing Temple, Cheung Chau
Pak Tai Festival
北帝誕
3rd March - Yuk Hui Temple, Wan Chai (Pak Tai Temple)
- Pak Tai Temple, Hok Un Kok
- Pak Tai Temple, Cheung Chau
- Sam Tai Tze & Pak Tai Temple, Sham Shui Po
- Tam Kung & Tin Hau Temple, Wong Nei Chung
Sam Tai Tze Festival
三太子誕
18th March - Sam Tai Tze & Pak Tai Temples, Sham Shui Po
Tin Hau Festival
天后誕
23rd March - Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay
- Tin Hau Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Tin Hau Temple, To Kwa Wan
- Tin Hau Temple, Sham Shui Po
- Tin Hau Temple, Peng Chau
- Tin Hau Temple, Cha Kwo Ling
- Tin Hau Temple, Aberdeen
Tam Kung Festival
譚公誕
8th April - Tam Kung Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Tam Kung & Tin Hau Temple, Wong Nai Chung
Dragon Mother Festival
龍母誕
8th May, 15th August - Yuk Hui Temple, Wan Chai (Pak Tai Temple)
- Tin Hau Temple, To Kwa Wan
Shing Wong Festival
城隍誕
11th May,
28th May,
24th May
- Shing Wong Temple, Shau Kei Wan
Guan Ping Festival
關平太子誕
13th May - Kwan Tai Temple, Sham Shui Po
Mo Tai Festival
武帝誕
24th June - Kwan Tai Temple, Sham Shui Po
Hau Wong Festival
侯王誕
6th June &
16th June
- Hau Wong Temple, Tai O (6th June)
- Hau Wong Temple, Junction Road (16th June)
Festival of the Ghost
盂蘭節/中元節
14th July
* Ceremonial ritual may vary form one temple to another
- Yuk Hui Temple, Wan Chai (Pak Tai Temple)
- Tin Hau Temple, Sham Shui Po
- Kwan Tai Temple, Sham Shui Po
- Shing Wong Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Tin Hau Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Tam Kung Temple, Shau Kei Wan
- Lin Fa Kung, Tai Hang
- Tam Kung & Tin Hau Temple, Wong Nai Chung
- Tin Hau Temple, To Kwa Wan