The Man Mo Temple is a tribute to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo), both of whom were originally worshipped by students desiring for success in the civil examinations of Imperial China. These involved rigorous systems aimed at equally selecting the best government officials for the state.
Built in 1847, this remains the largest Man Mo temple in Hong Kong. To pause for a moment’s respite under its giant hanging incense coils makes for a pleasant contrast with the hectic pace of the nearby financial district.
In 1908, the temple was officially entrusted to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. It was listed as a Grade I historic building in 2009 and is preserved as a Declared Monument.
While the Man Mo Temple nowadays is no longer used for settling disputes, believers come here for a number of other reasons. Devotees burn huge bell- shaped coils of incense that hang from the temple's ceiling in hopes of grabbing the attention of the gods. Some even believe the incense is food for the "spirits" that have gone long before.
Wooden sedan chairs with intricate carvings of the God stand serenely near the entrance. Most date back to the nineteenth century and were once used during festivals to transport statues of the gods through the streets of Hong Kong.
Man Mo Temple has three entrances. If you enter through the left one, you would find a man sitting behind a small wooden table. That is the diviner of the temple. You may let him give you some hint over your fate, if you are having troubles making up some tough decisions.
A large number of fortune-teller stalls are therefore located near the temple. Both locals and visitors stop by to check out their chances for good luck in the future. In this Hong Kong version of fortune telling, devotees tend to shake a bamboo tube that contains "bamboo fortune sticks". There's a number on each stick that corresponds to a "fortune", and the one that falls out first will determine your destiny.
Whether or not you are a follower of the Chinese Confusion gods, paying a visit to the Man Mo Temple will undoubtedly brings about thought-provoking and astonishing experience, for you may envision the relationship between religionand humanity in new facets.
One of the most significant characteristics of Man Mo Temple is the Swirl shape incenses with red prayer silps attaching to them.
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