Name(English): Che Kung Temple
Name(Chinese): 車公廟
Category: Culture and History
Phone Number: +852 2603 4049
Address(English): 7 Che Kung Miu Rd, ShaTin
Address(Chinese): 新界沙田大圍車公廟道7號
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/3BQaBBfxmB9k5HpT6
Address longitude and latitude: 22.373647172659517, 114.18286854827886
Nearest MTR Station: Che Kung Temple Station Exit B
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/2LYADnFERdoPtSgdA
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.374884282308123, 114.1859668633265
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 5 mins from Che Kung Temple Station Exit B
Opening Hours:
MON 08:00 – 18:00
TUE 08:00 – 18:00
WED 08:00 – 18:00
THU 08:00 – 18:00
FRI 08:00 – 18:00
SAT 08:00 – 18:00
SUN 08:00 – 18:00
Recommended Time to Visit: 10:00 or 15:00 after lunch
Accessibility Note: Easy access
Che Kung Temple is a temple dedicated to Che Kung, a military commander in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). One of his biggest achievements is to escort Prince Ping, Song dynasty’s last emperor on his escape to Sai Kung (i.e. New Territories in Hong Kong) when Mongolia was invading Song; which brought him the glory to be reversed as a god.
The original temple to worship General Che is in Ho Chung Village, Sai Kung District. It is built in the mid-16th century, earlier than the Sha Tin Che Kung Temple 200 years. Since Che Kung is famous for his supreme power to suppress plagues, the Sha Tin villagers would love to invite him for help during the Ming Dynasty in which plagues were everywhere in New Territories. However, the Ho Chung villagers disagreed with it and only allowed the grandson of Che Kung to help. Thus, the Sha Tin Che Kung Temple is constructed, for worshiping the grandson of Che Kung.
There are four recommended dates to visit the temple if you want to pay a visit: 3rd day the first lunar month; 27th day of the third lunar month; 6th day of sixth lunar month and 16th day of the eighth lunar month. These are the dates where people celebrate for Che Kung’s birthday (yes, Che Kung has FOUR birthdays each year!), and you should try to visit if the dates coincide with your visit to Hong Kong. However, it is still fine to visit the temple on any other date within the opening hours.
Visitors usually go to Che Kung Temple for blessings in the coming year. One tradition is to turn the fan-blade wheels: It is believed turning the wheels can bring luck to the person. Interestingly, there have been debates on how one should turn the wheel to bring good luck though. Some say the wheels should be spun anti-clockwise if you wish to stop the misery last year; some say it should be turned clockwise no matter the fortune you had last year. So, good luck to you if you cannot decide which way to turn!
In addition, you can also offer incenses for blessing and Kau Chim for fortune telling at Che Kung Temple. The ritual is similar to that of other temples, please refer to the Man Mo Temple Article for how to offer incense and Wong Tai Sin Article for how to Kau Chim.
Che Kung Temple is the official temple for Hong Kong government to ask for fortune. There has been some strangely accurate moment since the practice started in 1995:
- The fortune on year 2003 was bad – Then Hong Kong was hit by SARS, an epidemic that took away 299 people that year.
- The fortune on year 2009 was bad – Hong Kong’s GDP shrunk by 2.5% in 2009 after the Financial Crisis in 2008
The official result recorded in Wikipedia
When you are already in Sha Tin, there are so many things you should see and do there. You should pick up a bike and go all the way to Tai Mei Tuk!
Spend a day emerge yourself into the cultural part of Hong Kong!
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