ENG-1978 — Page 255

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Religion and Custom

FOXX

WHILE at least seven major religions are represented in Hong Kong, Buddhism and Taoism have, by far, the greatest number of followers. The territory has more than 600 Buddhist and Taoist temples which are crowded at festivals and on the first and 15th days of the_lunar month. Some of the temples are old and contain priceless antiques; others are splendid new temples built along traditional Chinese architectural lines.

Other major religions represented in Hong Kong include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism.

Buddhism and Taoism

The religious practices of Buddhism and Taoism continue to thrive in Hong Kong. Among the Buddhist and Taoist believers, almost every household has its ancestral shrine and countless shops have a God Shelf, with images of the most favoured 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. Those at Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan are popular with people living on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon because of their 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 beautiful view of the sunrise, and many visitors go there at weekends and on holidays. Sightseers and devotees are also attracted to Tsing Shan Monastery 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, Buddhist Ching She (Places for Spiritual Cultivation), Fat Tong (Buddha Halls) and To Yuen (Places for Taoist Worship) have been established in residential flats to cater for the spiritual needs of the city dwellers. Various Buddhist institutions hold gatherings where the sutras are expounded.

Almost all monasteries and temples are open to the public. The temples are crowded at festivals and on the first and 15th days of the lunar month. Although each temple is normally dedicated to one major deity – occasionally two - it is usual to find the images of many deities in the same temple.

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