It is easy to encounter temples of different sizes in Hong Kong. This ranges from large-scale Tin Hau temples that occupy the space of a few shops on ground floors to shrines in shops. If you look closely, you see deities everywhere in the city.
Part 1 – Religions
Believers are free to worship different deities in different temples. If the Tin Hau cannot help, one can go to Duke Guan and/or the Jade Emperor. All forms of worship are acceptable if they work. The only rule to observe is that if the wish is granted, one has to go back to the temple to thank the deity and repay the vow.
The arrangements of temples and shrines in different places represent the demographic and social compositions of the districts. To take Sha Tau Kok as an example, there are two temples dedicated to Tin Hau, one is for the Tanka community, the other is for the Hakka community. Although both temples are dedicated to the same deity, the separated temples reveal the different social groups in the community. By understanding the ways that devotees interact with temples in their respective regions, one can identify their specific social and cultural backgrounds.
Part 2 – “Map of Deities”
The following is a map of the deities in the Sha Tau Kok area. One can see that most of the temples are Hip Tin Temples (dedicated to Duke Guan ) or Tin Hau Temples.
(Yellow：Emperor Guan；Blue：Tin Hau； Green：Guanyin/ Jesus)
Duke Guan and Tin Hau are two deities that are endorsed and promoted by the Qing imperial court. Since the Qing dynasty was a foreign Manchurian power, the imperial court attempted to legitimize their rule by accepting and internalizing folk beliefs and deities. In turn, newcomers also attempted to legitimize their presence in communities by worshiping ‘imperial court approved’ deities. As an ethnic group that only moved to Hong Kong when the border was restored in 1669, the Hakka people felt that their social status was lower than that of the Cantonese people. By establishing new Hip Tin temples and Tin Hau temples, the group marks their presence in communities and enhances their social statuses.
Compared to Duke Guan and Tin Hau, both of which manifestations of natural phenomena, Bak Gong, the earth deity, is the most frequently worshipped deity despite his lower status.
Part 3 – Festivals
Apart from the Duke Guan Festival (6.24 of Lunar Calendar) and the Tin Hau Festival (3.23 of Lunar Calendar), the Hing Chun Alliance, the Nam Luk Alliance, Yim Liu Ha Tin Hau Temple and Kat O Tin Hau Temple have all kept the traditional “Jiao” Festival, that is held once every ten years.
When facing changes in nature, villagers used to turn to feng shui and deities for explanations on things they encounter in daily life. Traditionally, it is believed that communities and people will inevitably commit sins and be polluted in their daily lives. So the religious rituals (jiao) are needed to restore cleanliness to the human world. To figure out the region and community that could benefit from the ritual and become protected by the deity, one can analyze the pilgrimage route, donation information and flowers presented.
The rituals are a way to reaffirm community and social boundaries.