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Sam Heung (三鄉), the area immediately west of the new market. While there is no evidence as to the date of this temple, it is likely to be as old as the Am King temple.2 The third temple was the Tin Hau Temple at Wu Shek Kok some miles west of the new town. Almost certainly, the district ferries left from the deep-water harbour immediately in front of the temple, from at least Ming times to the 1830s. This site is remote, with no houses or residences within a half mile, just the hill behind and the sea in front. The temple would, therefore, have provided essential shelter for people waiting for the ferry, as well as casting the protection of the Goddess over those embarking. There is no surviving dating evidence from this temple, but it is probably old.14
Founding a new market was a risky and expensive business, and it is not surprising that the villagers felt that the deities should be propitiated before work began. The Sam Heung villagers accordingly founded a large new Tin Hau temple at the seafront near the new market site, probably about 1815-1820. They also started a decennial Ta Tsui (打水) at the new temple to placate any spirits who might be offended by the work on the reclamation and the new market.15
All markets in the area have temples, but the three older temples were too far away to serve the market. The new temple was probably designed to be the main market temple. As part of the foundation of the new town, the Shap Yeuk moved the ferry pier into it from Wu Shek Kok. It is unclear who owned the ferries before the 1840s, but certainly the Shap Yeuk was fully in control of them from that period at the latest. It was clearly felt that the new ferry pier at the new town should, like the old one, be sanctified by the presence of the Goddess: not surprisingly, therefore, the new ferry pier was built on the foreshore immediately in front of the new temple.
The genealogy of the Wong clan of Shan Tsui village states that Wong Yin-tung (黃賢東) (1779-1867) of that clan managed the temple foundation project: 'Throughout his life he was upright and firm; he took the lead in the first construction of the Tin Hau Temple at Sha Tau Kok.' The Sam Heung villagers ran the temple through a trust, the Sam Wo Tong (三和堂, "The Hall of Three at Peace").
A further, small Tin Hau Temple was found by the investors into the saltpan reclamation project, to assist in the protection of this area, which
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Sam Heung ( ), the area immediately west of the new market. While there is no evidence as to the date of this temple, it is likely to be as old as the Am King temple. 2 The third temple was the Tin Hau Temple at Wu Shek Kok some miles west of the new town. Almost certainly, the district ferries lelt from the deep-water hard immediately in front of the temple, from at least Ming times to the 1830s. This site is remote, with no houses or residences within a half mule, just the hill behind and the sea in front. The temple would, therefore, have provided essential shelter for people waiting for the ferry, as well as casting the protection of the Goddess over those embarking There is no surviving dating evidence from this temple, but it is probably old, 14
Founding a new market was a risky and expensive business, and it is not surprising that the villagers felt that the deities should be propitiated before work began The Sam Heung villagers accordingly founded a large new Tin Hau temple at the seafront near the new market site, probably about 1815-1820. They also started a decennial Ta Tsui (
) at the new temple to placate any sprits who might be offended by the work on the reclamation and the new market. 15
All markets in the area have temples, but the three older temples were too far away to serve the market. The new temple was probably designed to be the main market temple. As part of the foundation of the new town, the Shap Yeuk moved the ferty pier into it from Wu Shek Kok It is unclear who owned the tenies before the 1840s, but certainly the Shap Yeuk was fully in control of them from that period at the latest. It was clearly felt that the new ferry pier at the new town should, like the old one, be sanctified by the presence of the Goddess: note surprisingly, therefore, the new fenty pier was built on the foreshore immediately in front of the new temple.
The genealogy of the Wong clan of Shan Tsui village states that Wong Yin-tung (D BY Jr) (1779-1867) of that clan managed the temple foundation project: 'Throughout his life he was upright and firm he took the lead in the first construction of the Tin Hau Temple at Sha Tau Kok.' The Sam Heung villagers ran the temple through a trust, the Sam Wo Tong (
"The Hall of Three at Peace")
+
A further, small Tin Hau Temple was found by the investors into the saltpan reclamation project, to assist in the protection of this area, which
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