Ancient Temple of Tin Hau in Rua dos Pescadores

Constructed in small scale in the fourth year of Tongzhi Reign (1865), the Tin Hau Temple is the only temple located in the east of Macao Peninsula, facing the sea.

Located in small hill, Tin Hau Temple was located enlarged with a series of constructions such as the Hall of Goddess of Earth, Kun lam Hall, Mou Tai Hall, Depository of Buddhist Texts, Lectorium and Buddhist Library.

An inscription was left during the period of reconstruction in 1978: “Facing the former east bay of the territory, Tin Hau Temple was construction at the foot of a hill, where there was stone altar dedicated to Tin Hau. It wasn’t construction until 1865 (the fourth year of Tongzhi Reign) with the money raised by scholar Huang Wenhai and reconstructed in 1987.”

From the inscriptions we know that the temple developed from an altar.

Descending from the architectural style of Zhangxiang Hall of A-Ma Temple, the temple also consists of a stone hall and a pavilion. The inner wall of the stone hall is also decorated with engravings of sea monsters. On the four square stone bars of the hall are engraved four couplets, which is unique in the temples of Macao.

The following are four couplets:

“The lotus-like island receives blessings and the divinity is shining like a sun. Miracles happen in Pu Tian and Virtues of Mother are high as Heaven.”

“Beneficence is spread to bring happiness and health, virtues are accumulated to bear difficulties.”

“Spirit brightens Macao and Zhuhai, beneficence covers Yongmen and Macao.”

“Beneficence is spread widely through divination; Minxia is also protected by the same divinity.”

Later, the Kun Iam Hall, Mou Tai Hall, Depositary of Buddhist Texts and Temple of Goddess of Earth were constructed consecutively.

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

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