A Lotus-Shaped Temple — Lin Fa Temple of Tai Hang

The Lin Fa temple, meaning the “Temple of Lotus,” was likely built in the 2nd year in the Tongzhi Reign of the Qing dynasty (1863). When it was built, the Lin Fa Temple had the hill as its backdrop while facing the sea. In those times, the now-Tung Lo Wan Road was the actual coastline facing the sea. In terms of Feng Shui, this was meant to bode well. Right next to the Lin Fa Temple was the old Tai Hang Village (more below). Kwun Yam (the Goddess of Mercy) is the resident deity at the Lin Fa Temple. The Lin Fa Temple is also the first Kwun Yam temple in Hong Kong island. It was said that the Lin Fa Temple belonged to one Tsang family, but eventually the temple was handed over to the Chinese Temples Committee in 1975. When I first saw the temple, I became immediately intrigued by its unique appearance. Its top is in an octagonal shape (it is actually a half octagon because it is built with the hill at its back). Unlike pretty much all other temples in Hong Kong, the Lin Fa Temple was built with entry ways on the two sides. A half-moon shaped stone rail girdles the central opening, which, in the old times, would have faced the sea. The roof is a double-eaves-tented roof, and the front hall is connected with the main hall without a courtyard, unlike the usual two-hall format with side chambers in most temples. The temple has two stories, and there are stairs within the temple to reach the upper altar. Traditionally, the people of Tai Hang celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival by holding the Fire Dragon dance parade during the three days of the festival. The Fire Dragon originated from a time of plague during the 19th century. A village elder said that Kwun Yam (the resident deity in Tai Hang’s Lin Fa Temple), gave him the revelation that a fire dragon dance will drive away the plague. The villagers gathered the troupes and did a Fire Dragon dance as instructed, and the plague really disappeared. #linfakungtemple #linfatemple #lotustemple #kwunyam #guanyin #buddhism #taihang #hongkonghistory #hongkongheritage