Man Mo temples in Hong Kong


A Man Mo temple, or Man Mo Miu, is a temple dedicated to the Chinese folk god of literature, Man Tai, or Man Cheong, and the martial god Mo Tai, or Kwan Tai. The two deities were commonly patronized by scholars and students seeking progress in their study or ranking in the civil examinations in the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are several Man Mo temples in Hong Kong, the best-known of which is the one in Sheung Wan.

Sheung Wan

The largest Man Mo temple in Hong Kong is at 124–126 Hollywood Road, in Sheung Wan, built in 1847. It is part of a complex that comprises three adjacent blocks: Man Mo Temple, Lit Shing Temple, and Kung So.
The Man Mo Temple, the main building of the complex, is dedicated to the civil god Man Cheong and the martial god Kwan Tai. Lit Shing Kung is for the worship of all heavenly gods. Kung So, to its west, was an assembly hall where community affairs and disputes were settled.
In 1908, the temple was officially entrusted to the Tung Wah Board of Directors. The temple has since been managed by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. It was graded as a Grade I historic building in 1993, and it is now a declared monument.

Tai Po

The Man Mo Temple on Fu Shin Street, Tai Po, was built in 1893, to mark the founding of Tai Wo Shi. It has been listed as a declared monument.

Lantau

The Man Mo temple at Pak Ngan Heung, in Mui Wo, Lantau Island, underwent a major renovation in 1960 and was rebuilt in 2001.