ENG-1975 — Page 220

16

Religion and Custom

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EXCEPT at festivals, the people of Hong Kong do not make much show of religion. At least six religions are practised, but even the two most popular-Buddhism and Taoism could pass unnoticed by a visitor whose stay did not coincide with some special celebration. Hong Kong has its share of old and new temples-some of them magnificent buildings-but they are not so evident as in other parts of the East.

Apart from 600 Buddhist and Taoist temples, the territory has nearly 600 Christian churches and chapels, three Muslim mosques, a Hindu temple and a Jewish synagogue.

Buddhism and Taoism

Among the Taoist and Buddhist believers, almost every household has its ances- tral shrine and countless shops have a God Shelf, with images of usually two or three of the hundreds of divinities. Traditional rites associated with birth, marriage and death are still widely observed.

Religious studies are conducted in monasteries, nunneries and hermitages, with those at Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan being popular because of their easy accessibility. But the best known monasteries are situated in the more remote and unspoilt parts of the New Territories. The Buddhist Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island is renowned for its view of the sunrise, and many visitors go there at weekends and holidays. Sightseers and devotees are also attracted to Ching Shan Tsz and Tsing Chung Koon at Castle Peak, Tung Po Tor and Yuen Yuen Hok Yuen near Tsuen Wan, and Sai Lam at Sha Tin. At Tao Fung Shan, near Sha Tin, there is a Christian study centre on Chinese religion and culture, where the work of the Christian Mission to Buddhists has been carried out for many years. In the urban areas, various Buddhist institutions hold gatherings where the sutras are expounded.

Virtually all monasteries are open to the public, as are the temples-which are crowded at festivals and on certain days of the month. Although each temple is general- ly dedicated to one major deity occasionally two—it is usual to find the images of many deities in most temples. Since Hong Kong has always depended on the sea- originally for fishing and then for trade the most popular deities are those connected with the sea and the weather. Tin Hau, the Queen of Heaven and protectress of sea- farers, is said to be worshipped by 250,000 people.

There are at least 24 Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong, the first and most famous being the one at Fat Tong Mun in Joss House Bay. Because of land reclamation, many of the Tin Hau temples which were originally established by the sea are now some distance inland.