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Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple

Among the 43 temples of Macao, the grandest and the most beautiful one is the official temple - Lotus Temple, integrating the artistic and historical values into the same body. The Lotus Temple is one of ancient temples of Macao, built during the period of Wanli Reign(from 1573 to 1619) of the Ming Dynasty. Created by a wandering monk Xihe, the temple was only dedicated to Tin Hau at that time. In the temple there is an ancient board ‘‘Bounties flow in China and aboard’’ of the year of Ren Shen of Wanli Reign (the 30th year, in 1602), ‘‘offered by executive founder Cui Yinhan’’.This precious antique has been hung in the temple for about four hundred years, which shows that the temple has at least, a history of four hundred years.

The Lotus Temple, A-Ma Temple and the Kun lam Temple are all together called ‘The Three Ancient Temples of Macao’. In accordance to the scale of construction, the Three Ancient Temples of Macao can be listed in the first place in Macao. Their superb artistic techniques of construction are superior to the standard of the Temple of Pou Tai Un rather than inferior to it.

It is recorded in the annals of Chronicle of Macao co-writer in Qianlong reign by Yin Guangren and Zhang Ruli, Who was consecutively in charge of Macau coast defence: “Mountains of Ao stand facing each other in the north and south with a sea in between. Across the sea are embankment sand, ten li in length and five or six zhang in width. At the end of the embankment there is a mountain filled with flowers, called Mountain of Lotus. And the embankment also has its corresponding name, the Mountain of Lotus lies on the access to the customs. At the foot of the Mountain, there is a temple of Tian Fei.” The Temple of “Tian Fei” is the Temple of the Lotus.

Built on a special place, the Lotus Temple lies on the only access to the Mainland. During the period of Jiaquing Reign of the Qing Dynasty, the government of Xiangshan County had collected appropriate funds in order to enlarge and repair the temple. And assigned other estates to compensate it. However, the Lotus Temple became the temporary office of various Macao’s out-posted officials, and it was considered as official temple.

Many existent ancient boards of the Lotus Temple can prove that it is an official temple.

It is said in the inscription of the oldest board of the temple. The tablets record of the Event of Dingjian and the preface to the Palace of Benevolence of f the Mountain of Lotus, was set u in the first year of YongZhong reign (in 1723), that Li Daheng, sub-director in charge of grain of Guangzhou and chief of Xiangshan and Li Fa, chief director of control of flood, raised funds to build the Lotus Temple.

It is also mentioned in the official board of the temple inscribed in the 23rd year of Jianqing Reign (1818): “The Lotus Temple is a where all Macao people offer incenses, however, it is used as office by various out-posted Macao’s officials.” So some estate assignd the temple for rent in order to get some compensation.

There is also a similar record in the official board inscribed in the 23rd year of Daoguang Reign (in 1843) set up in the Guild of Sanjie (now the Kwan Tai Ancient Temple) by Zhang Yu. It reiterates: “The Lotus Temple receives incenses from all the territory of Macao. However, the temple alone with it side halls was used to be an official residence of various Macao’s out posted officials.” So officials once assigned Shagang (now Rua de Coelho do Amaral) and Guanpian (now Rua dos Ervanarios) for rental to support its engagement. And it was prohibited for the lessee to occupy land and refuse to give rentals.

In modern times, Macao has occupied an important role in the history of communications between China and abroad. The Lotus Temple, as an official temple, also played an important role in communications.

On the 26th of July of the 19th year of Daoguang Reign (on 3rd of September of 1893) the imperial envoy Lin Zexu came to Macao for inspection. Immediately after he arrived at Macao, he entered the Lotus Temple to handle official affairs and call in the leader of Yi. In this diary and the memorial to the throne, where he mentioned his activities in the Lotus Temple.

It is said in his diary: ‘‘looking over Mong Ha, there is a temple called New Temple (the Lotus Temple) where Kwan Tai is worshipped. At first, I went to offer incenses to the God. In the middle house I called in the leader of Yi and declared imperial edicts to him, then awarded the official with a colourful satins, folding fans, teas and ice sugar, and awarded the soldiers with cattle, sheep, wine and 400 silver coins.’’ In the memorial to the Emperor Daoguang it is said about this call: ‘‘the leader wore no hats and belts his body, rather respectful and cautions. I declared to him the imperial edicts and orders. And also instructed him to be loyal and abide by law (…)’’

Five years later in summer of the 24th year of Daoguang (in 1844), another imperial envoy Qi Ying came to Macao twice to preside the negotiations of the second and third unequal treaties and the Treaty of Mong Ha between China and America and the Treaty of Huangpu between China and France. The place where Qi Ying lived at that time is the guest room of the Lotus Temple.

The record about Qi Ying lived in the Lotus Temple is kept in the documents written in Portuguese.

It is recorded in detail in the book of Diplomatic Policy of Portuguese in China, From 1841 to 1854: In the middle of June, the Portuguese envoy Silveira Pinto, his secretary, adjutant, captain of ‘‘Tejo’’, commanders of every forte battery and directory of Leal Senado rode 23 big palanquins to visit Qi Ying: ‘‘As soon as I entered the Lotus Temple, the national anthem was performed. When I approached, all the guns solutes fired at once. It was the welcome ceremony of Chinese. Our military band also played the Ode to the Queen. The Chinese soldiers stood there with rifle in hand (…)’’. (Page 63)

The value of the temples of Macao lies in its beliefs and religions, but also plays an important role, which they have been played in the communications between China and abroad.

Besides the Lotus Temple, A-Ma Temple is also an important symbolic temple.

(Source: Macau Temples by Chan, Lei and Chendra published by IACM SAR 2002). Back to Macau Temples

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