| Wong
Tai Sin Temple, a Taoist temple established in 1921, is
one of the most famous temples in Hong Kong. It is also
renowned among overseas Chinese in Southern Asia, Europe,
and America.
Wong
Tai Sin Temple is named after Wong Chuping. When Wong
Chuping was 15, he began to follow Taoism. Forty years
later, he achieved enlightenment and became immortal.
People called him Wong Tai Sin from then on. It is said
that he punishes evils, heals the wounded, and rescues
the dying. The influence of Wong Tai Sin spread from Guangdong
Province to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. With
his mercy and his power, he is said to grant whatever
is requested. Wong Tai Sin Temple is known for its fortune-telling.
The fortune sticks (or lots) in Wong Tai Sin Temple are
very accurate. Many people who visit the temple come to
have their fortunes told. Generally, worshippers entreat
the fate of the same year. They light worship sticks,
kneel before the main altar, make a wish, and shake a
bamboo cylinder containing fortune sticks until one falls
out. The stick is exchanged for a piece of paper bearing
the same number, and the soothsayer then interprets the
fortune on the paper for the worshipper. Wong Tai Sin
has many worshippers in Hong Kong, so the joss sticks
and candles burn exuberantly all year round, especially
during the Chinese Lunar New Year and Wong Tai Sin's birthday
- the 23rd day of the eighth lunar month.
Wong
Tai Sin Temple is also called Sik Sik Yuen. The architecture
of Wong Tai Sin Temple is in the traditional Chinese temple
style: grand red pillars, a magnificent golden roof adorned
with blue friezes, yellow latticework, and resplendent
multi-colored carvings. Aside from the Daxiong-baodian
or Grand Hall, Sansheng Hall and the Good Wish Garden
are also worth seeing. The temple grounds also feature
three memorial archways. The first one stands outside
the temple and is carved with the name of the temple.
If you walk past the soothsayers and the fortune-telling
stalls, you can see another memorial archway. And if you
continue further along the third memorial archway standing
before you. Memorial archways are a common feature of
traditional Chinese architecture. Also at the temple are
the Nine Dragon Wall--a replica of the renowned Nine Dragon
Wall in Beijing, and the Good Wish Garden - a miniature
copy of Beijing's Summer Palace .
Additionally,
Wong Tai Sin Temple is the only temple that offers facilities
for wedding ceremonies in Hong Kong.
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