Hong Kong’s Lo Wai Xiang Hai Ci Hang Boat Temple

　　Xiang Hai Ci Hang is a temple located at Sam Dip Tam in Lo Wai Village, Tsuen Wan. Its appearance resembles a fishing boat and it is built by the side of Sam Dip Tam. During the rainy season, when mountain stream water flows noisily, it is also known as the “Boat Temple.”

　　The main deity worshipped in Xiang Hai Ci Hang is Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy). In Buddhist scriptures, Guanyin vow to ferry all beings across the sea of suffering. “Xiang Hai” in Buddhist texts refers to the inner sea surrounding Mount Sumeru, filled with fragrant waters, and can also generally denote the Buddhist realm.

　　Built in 1960, the site was formerly known as “Guanyin Rock.” It is said that villagers from Lo Wai Village designed and constructed it themselves, modeling it after fishing boats in the South China Sea, with some building materials even coming from stones of Sam Dip Tam [2]. It is reported that Xiang Hai Ci Hang was originally a Lu Zu (Lü Dongbin) practice site, and Master Kuan Zong once divined with Taoist friends and was appointed as abbot by Lu Zu.

　　At the bow of the boat-shaped temple stands a statue of Guan Yu as the guardian deity. The front cabin houses the Memorial Hall of Master Hui Yun, the middle cabin is the Memorial Hall of Master Kuan Zong, the founding abbot, while the rear cabin is the Yuantong Treasure Hall enshrining the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. At the stern is a standing statue of the White-Robed Guanyin. Above the Memorial Hall of Master Kuan Zong is the “Lv Zu Fei Zhen Ying Hua Altar” dedicated to Lu Zu. Lu Zu is a famous Taoist immortal and one of the Eight Immortals. In the center of the altar hangs a plaque inscribed with “Ming Jing Fei Tai” (The Bright Mirror Is Not a Stand). These four characters come from the Zen enlightenment verse of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng: “Bodhi is not a tree, the bright mirror is not a stand. Originally there is not a single thing—where could dust alight?”

　　In addition, to the west of Xiang Hai Ci Hang, there is a “Yun Lian Bridge” that spans Sam Dip Tam to connect to the opposite bank. To the east lies a small temple called “Chao Yin Jing Yuan,” whose main gate faces the lower part of Kwai Chung downhill. Outside the temple is a gourd-shaped pool on the ground, and next to the Earth God shrine is written: “The husband is very fair, the wife is full of compassion.”

　　Transportation Guide

　　Location: Sam Dip Tam, Lo Wai Village, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.

　　Getting There: Take green minibus route 81 from the Tsuen Wan Siu Wo Street Green Minibus Terminus, get off at Sai Fong Si (Western Monastery), then walk downhill for about 5 minutes until you see the sign “Xiang Hai Ci Hang,” and descend a flight of stairs to reach the temple.