Macau's name is derived from A-Ma-Gau or Place of A-Ma and this temple dedicated to the seafarers' goddess dates from the early 16th century.
According to legend, A-Ma, a poor girl looking for passage to Canton, was refused by the wealthy junk owners but a lowly fisherman took her on board. A storm blew up and wrecked all but the boat carrying the girl.
On arrival in Macau she vanished, to reappear as a goddess, on the spot where the fishermen built her temple.
It consists of prayer halls, pavilions and courtyards built into the boulder-strewn hill and connected by winding paths through moon gates and tiny gardens. At the entrance is a large rock on which is engraved a traditional sailing junk. On other boulders are carved red characters invoking the gods or repeating a prayer.
Three of the four pavilions are dedicated to A-Ma and contain some fine statues of the goddess together with a model of a junk with cannons, brass vessels and chapels to Buddhist and Taoist gods. The top shrine honours Kun Iam. This temple is distinguished by beautiful tiled roofs and spectacular views from the upper gardens. The festival of A-Ma takes place on the 23rd day of the 3rd moon (April or May).
Firecrackers, to scare away evil spirits, are exploded in the entrance courtyard to greet tour groups and lions dances are performed here on weekends.
Kun Iam Tong
(Avenida do Coronel Mesquita)
This Buddhist temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy was founded in the 13th century and the present buildings date from 1627. It is one of the biggest and wealthiest of Macau's temples with a huge entrance gate and roofs clustered with porcelain figures. Separated by open courtyards are richly decorated halls dedicated to the Precious Buddhas, the Buddha of Longevity and Kun Iam, who is dressed in embroiled silk with a fringed crown (which is changed every year). She is attended by 18 Buddhas on either side of the altar. In adjoining rooms are funeral chapels and scrolls honouring Kun Iam in pictures and calligraphy.
Behind the temple are terraced gardens. In one is the stone table on which was signed the first Sino-American treaty on July 3, 1844, by the Viceroy of Canton Ki Ying and the United States Minister Caleb Cushing. Nearby is the marble statue of a monk in an ornate pavilion, and four ancient banyan trees with branches intertwined which is known as the Lovers Tree and a symbol of marital fidelity.
In other parts of the garden are fountains shaped like miniature Chinese landscapes, groves of bamboo and small shrines to departed priests. The festival of Kun Iam is celebrated on the 19th day of second, sixth, ninth and 11th moons.
Lin Fung Miu
(Temple of Lotus)
(Avenida do Almirante Lacerda)
Built in 1592 and most regularly restored, this Temple of the Lotus has a fine facade of intricate clay bas-relief carved in the 19th century depicting historical and mythological figures. Stone lions guard the entrance. Inside is a hall with a statue of Tin Hau on the altar, flanked by the guardian generals. Beyond is a courtyard decorated with a frieze of writhing dragons, a lotus filled pond and fine iron brazier. The main hall is dedicated to Kun Iam, whose statue occupies an elaborate altar. Aside altar has a shrine to Kwan Tai. The temple's ceiling is a particularly good example of the black beams and exposed white tiles construction. Lin Fung Miu is historically famous as the place where for centuries Chinese Mandarins from Guangdong Province would stay when they came to Macau. The most renowned visitor was Commissioner Lin Zexu, who spent most of September 3rd 1839 in Macau. He is honoured with a six-foot granite statue and a new museum in the temple courtyard.
Lin Kai Miu
(Stream of Mourning Temple) (Travessa da Corda)
Dating from the 17th century, this temple occupies a square off Estrada do Repouso in the Patane district, where a regular flea market is held. The temple has facade with some fine granite carvings on the walls and ridgepole and large Chinese lion statues on the roof.
The main hall is dedicated to Ua Kuong, the dark-faced god who protects against fire. He is attended by Thousand-Li Eye and Favourable-Wind Ear. In one adjoining hall are goddesses associated with childbirth and rearing. Along the walls are 18 statues of goddesses with children, brightly coloured and expressive clay figures of the 60' year' gods. In another hall is a row of six Buddhist pusas. Kun Iam in her fringed-veil head-dress is worshipped in one of the halls where she shares an altar with a statue of Kwan Tai. A further hall is dedicated to the Monkey God, a popular character from Taoist mythology and hero of the literary epic monkey. The Lin Kai Temple supports a hospital and poor people's home. The festival of Ua Kuong is celebrated on the 28th day of the ninth moon.
Hong Kung Miu
(Rua das Estalagens)
This temple stands in the bustling market square between Rua das Estalagens and Rua de Cinco de Outubro. Built in 1750, and restored several times afterwards, it is dedicated to the God of War and Riches, Kwan Tai, who sits on the altar flanked by images of his son and his standard bearer. There are two side altars and a large area which the keeper and his family use as a living room. The table for offerings has an excellent carved front. The festival of Kwan Tai is celebrated on the 13th day of the fifth moon (in May) and 24th day of the sixth moon (in June).
Pou Tai Un
Pou Tai Un on Taipa Island is one of the best-endowed and most picturesque temples in Macau. It was founded in the 19th century by Buddhist monks and the original prayers hall contains images of the three Precious Buddhas.
Since then, both the monastery and temples have been extended and enriched by devotees. There are new pavilions with soaring yellow-tile roofs and an elegant status of Kun Iam on a marble-columned terrace.
The monks live in adjoining building. When not busy with prayers, they tend a large vegetable garden and operate a vegetarian restaurant where some of the produce is prepared.
Whether vegetarian or not, visitors will enjoy this casual verandah cafe, where the freshness of the ingredients is matched by the imaginative preparation and wide range of dishes.
Beer and soft drinks are available and prices are very low.
For enquiries: (853) 28811007
Temples to the local Gods
Throughout the whole city of Macau, small temples exist which altars have nametags of the gods that protect certain neighbourhoods. One that is of more interest is Tou Tei Miu on the Rua das Palmeiras, it has oration pavilions built between the giant rocks which settle on the Camões Garden.
Tam Kung Miu
This temple, with a fine toll roof decorated with porcelain figures, is dedicated to Tam Kung, a Taoist god of seafarers. Beside his image, the temple contains a four feet long model of a dragon boat made from a whalebone, with a crew of wooden men in red robes and yellow hats.
There is also a dramatic mural of a tiger with club, big-eyed and orange striped, against a background of rocks and twisted pines.
There are two temples dedicated to Tin Hau in Coloane village. The larger, on Largo Tin Hau Miu has, at its entrance, a traditional fire engine, which had to be wheeled by hand. A short distance away, off Travessa da República, is a smaller temple, with some brilliant gilded carvings over the entrance and a moongate facing the sea.
Tai Soi Miu
(Temple of the Sleeping Buddha)
(Rua da Figueira)
Built over 200 years ago, this temple is located in the old bazaar area behind Camões Garden, close to the Kiang Vu Hospital on Rua Coelho do Amaral. It is very popular, especially among women who come with offerings to the goddesses of fertility and child rearing that occupy one side of the temple. There are also a fine collection of year gods and prayer halls dedicated to Pau Kung, Taoist god of justice, and Kun Iam. Up a flight of steps and through a moongate is the main altar, with the image of the Sleeping Buddha, a small, gilded figure lying chin on hand. More steep steps lead to a shrine to Chung Kwai, Controller of Devils.
Sam Kai Vui Kun (Kuan Tai Temple)
The temple is situated on the site of the old Macao bazaar, whose sign still exists. Originally it was a meeting place for merchants, and was very important to the local Chinese community. Prior to the establishment of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Macao in 1912, the area surrounding the temple was the centre of Chinese trading in Macao. After the decline of the bazaar, the temple rose to importance in this area.
Location: Rua Sui do Mercado de São Domingos
Opening hours: 08:00 ~ 18:00
Na Tcha Temple
This temple was built in 1888 and dedicated to Na Cha in an attempt to halt the Plague rampaging at the time. In contrast to buildings such as the Ruins of St. Paul's around it, the Na Tcha Temple is only a small structure, built with simple materials, but the use of a mixture of reality and illusion in its design manages successfully to create a sense of delicacy and exquisiteness.
