Chun Chu Temple
Chun Chu Temple is a Buddhist and Taoist temple located in 1B Kai Yuen Street, North Point, Hong Kong. Chun Chu Temple was constructed in 1955, founded by a community of Hakka and Hainan people living in North Point, including Lam Wing Fai and Li Yuk Yuen.
During the 1950s to 1970s It is believed to be affiliated to the Kai Yuen Mansion and its residents, the Chan Wai Chow family. The Chan Wai Chow family was an influential family which included notable people such as Chen Ji Tang a senior general of the Nationalist Chinese army, who at 1929-1936 was also the governor of the Guangdong province; Seaker S.K. Chan, a doctorate graduate of Colombia University, and founder of many schools in Hong Kong including Chan Shu Kui memorial school, .
Currently, the Chun Chu Temple is a registered temple recognized by the Chinese Temples Ordinance, with around 300 disciples in total.
History
In the post war period, religious practices were being banned in mainland China. Hence many Vajrayana Buddhism Monks and scholars, borrowing from a renewed interest in Tibetan Esotericism, and Japanese Esotericism, moved to Hong Kong to spread their teachings. As a result, 1950s Hong Kong saw a boom in Vajrayana Buddhism, with multiple temples dedicated to the practice, such as 真如密院, and 普賢佛院 established during the decade.Chun Chu Temple was constructed in 1955, with it being one of the notable early Buddhist temples in Hong Kong that practices not only Vajrayana Buddhism, but also Mahayana Buddhism, and Taoism. A rare combination within Hong Kong's temples.
During the 1950s and 1960s, it was notable for being an active part of the Kai Yuen Community, such as hosting lantern lighting ceremonies during Lantern Festival, and giving free drinks to the Kai Fong.
Fuji (Planchette Writing) sessions, a Taoist tradition of using a suspended tray to guide a stick to write Chinese characters into sand or incense ash, were also hosted during the 1950s. Allowing Kai Fong to seek advice from the gods.
Threats
From 2010 onward, historical buildings in Kai Yuen Hill are rapidly demolished, leaving some residents and activists worried about the fate of the remaining post-war architecture such Chun Chu Temple in Kai Yuen Hill.The Kai Yuen Hill area has already seen many post-war buildings demolished for redevelopment. For example, in 2011, upper and lower Kai Yuen lane along with Tong Laus from the 1970s were demolished. While in 2021 a row of Tong Laus in 60–74 Kai Yuen Street from 1957, designed by architect Yam Koon Seng featuring a unique curved perimeter, was also demolished.
Scholar Fan Chi Wai believes that Chun Chu Temple is the only remaining building in the Kai Yuen area that relates back to Kai Yuen Mansion and the Chan Wai Chow family. Making the temple very significant within the history of Kai Yuen, and hence worthy of conservation.