subject: Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple- Reverential Reverie [print this page] On the South Coast separated by the Pearl River Delta and bordering South China Sea is Hong Kong. Home to more than six and a half million people, it is one of the most populous nations in the world. The majority of its citizens are of Chinese origin. The major religions of the country are Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
In the southern side of Lion Rock, north of Kowloon, Hong Kong, is a temple known as the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple, whose main attraction is a painting of a Taoist god that stands at the main altar. The painting was brought from Guangdong province to Hong Kong in the early 20th Century. The temple later survived the Japanese occupation unharmed, which people still believe to be a miracle.
The temple not only has important historical significance but also bears great architectural features such as the majestic Nine Dragon Wall and The Three-saint Hall that contains a portrait of Confucius, the great philosopher. The ancient monument even houses religious literature pertaining to Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Tall red pillars, a blue frieze painted on the golden roof, colourful carvings and borders are decorative aspects that you will encounter at the temple, typical of traditional Chinese architecture. The Grand Hall of the temple is called Daxiong-Baodian and is a must-see, while a stroll in the Wish Garden will leave you with a sense of calm and spirituality. The temple has three distinctive archways. One stands outside the temple and has the name of the temple etched on it. Walk past a row of stalls that have soothsayers and fortune tellers and you will come across the next archway; further down stands the third archway.
The temple is filled with most number of devotees for the year during the Chinese New Year and on the birthday of Wong Tai Sin, a famous monk of ancient times who later came to be worshipped as a deity. At the temple, it is common to see devotees lighting incense sticks and making a wish after kneeling at the altar. They then, shake a cylinder made of bamboo that contains fortune sticks until one of the sticks fall out. The stick bears a number and is traded for a piece of paper that has the identical number as the bamboo. The soothsayer will next analyze what's on the paper. This method is referred to as Kau Cim and is how devotees find spiritual fulfillment.
If you are embarking on a temple tour or just taking in the sights of Hong Kong, The Langham Hong Kong will provide you with convenient and comfortable accommodation. Made in the style of European grandeur, this luxury Hong Kong hotel lies in the heart of the busy Tsimshatsui shopping district.
