Tai Po Man Mo Temple

Tai Po Man Mo Temple

(Photographed on 2010/8/19 21:09:02)

The Tai Po Man Mo Temple, located in the town center of Tai Wo in Tai Po, New Territories East (now known as Fuk Shin Street), is a traditional Chinese temple. Built in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign (1891) and funded by the local Seven Alliances of Tai Po residents, it was completed in the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (1891). The Man Mo Temple marks the establishment of the Tai Po market.

The Tai Po Man Mo Temple is a classic example of traditional Chinese architecture. It is enclosed by walls to maintain a serene environment. The entrance is constructed from blue bricks and polished granite, with plaster reliefs adorning the two side walls and roof ridges. The eaves along the roof edge are characteristic of traditional New Territories buildings. There are eight side chambers on either side of the central courtyard, with those flanking the entrance once serving as lodging for visiting scholars and travelers passing through Tai Po.

The Tai Po Man Mo Temple follows a symmetrical layout. Its plaque reads “Man Mo Temple,” and its wooden couplet states: “Literature shines as bright as the sun and moon; Martial valor guards mountains and rivers.” Inside is an incense burner cast in the 28th year of the Guangxu reign (1902). The central axis is divided into three sections: the first being the main entrance — upon entering, one can see a second set of doors known as the “middle gate,” which remains closed on regular days but opens only on the birthdays of Guan Yu and the God of Literature, as well as on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month. In ancient times, only officials and nobility could enter through the middle gate, while others used the side entrances. The second section consists of an open-air courtyard and side chambers. The third section is the main hall, where the two Taoist deities are enshrined. On the right sits the God of Literature, holding a brush and clad in a long robe; on the left stands the God of War, Guan Yu, with his red face, long beard, guandao (halberd), and armor.

History

The Tai Po Man Mo Temple was built in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign (1891) and completed in the 18th year (1891). It was funded by the Seven Alliances of the time and served as the office of the Seven Alliances Council. It was a hub for administrative arbitration, religious worship, and economic and cultural activities in the Tai Wo Market (now called Tai Po Market). Atop the temple hangs a plaque inscribed with “Justice and Integrity,” and there was also a public weighing scale. In the past, apart from being an administrative office, the Man Mo Temple also resolved disputes among villagers and acted as a fair trade arbitration center for the Tai Wo Market. The public scale symbolized fair trading. By 1954, after the new District Council Office was built, the temple transitioned into a religious center dedicated to the worship of the God of Literature and the God of War.

The deities originally worshipped in the temple were represented by wooden plaques. On May 11, 1984, the Hong Kong government designated the Man Mo Temple as a statutory historic building under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, making it the first protected structure in the New Territories. Due to its age and deteriorated condition, successive committees of the Seven Alliances had long hoped to restore the ancient temple. Coinciding with the government’s development plans for Tai Po, funding was allocated in 1985, with over HK$700,000 jointly raised by the government and the Seven Alliances to renovate the temple. The restoration project involved removing the old roof, replacing decayed wooden beams, reinforcing the blue brick walls, and sealing additional windows. The temple’s exquisitely carved wooden ornaments and plaster decorations were meticulously repainted and repaired using traditional techniques. Statues of the two deities were then installed for public veneration. The renovated temple not only regained its former glory but also highlighted the distinctive features of traditional Chinese architecture.

Address: Fuk Shin Street, Tai Po, Hong Kong

Transportation: Take New Territories Mini Bus Route 25A

Source: Hong Kong Free Travel, Hong Kong Self-Guided Tour