包羅萬有 第二季 起源篇｜香港最早的天后廟與海上信仰起源 | Origins Series Season 2 | Hong Kong’s Earliest Tin Hau Temple and the Rise of Maritime Beliefs

香港作為海港城市，天后信仰與漁民文化有深厚關係。在維港尚未成形之前，沿海居民已經依靠天后庇佑出海捕魚與航行。香港最早的天后廟，不只是宗教建築，更是早期香港海洋歷史的重要見證。
Long before modern Hong Kong became an international harbour city, coastal communities already relied on the protection of Tin Hau, the sea goddess worshipped by fishermen and sailors. The city’s earliest Tin Hau temples were not merely places of worship, but living symbols of maritime survival, trade, and local heritage.

香港最早的天后廟，一般相信與宋代南來漁民及海上商旅有關，其中以位於佛堂門、筲箕灣及元朗一帶的古老天后信仰最具代表性。天后原名林默娘，源自福建沿海地區，後來被漁民尊奉為守護海洋與航海安全的女神。由於香港四面環海，早期居民多依靠捕魚、鹽業與海上貿易維生，因此天后信仰很快在珠江口一帶流傳開來。香港現存不少歷史悠久的天后廟，其中不少建於清代以前，有些甚至被認為可以追溯至南宋時期。位於西貢佛堂門的天后古廟，被不少歷史學者視為香港最古老的天后廟之一。佛堂門自古是船隻進出香港東部水域的重要通道，來往商船及漁船經常停泊避風，因此居民與水手共同集資建立廟宇，祈求航海平安。廟內仍保存不少古鐘、碑記與香爐，反映當年香港沿海聚落與海洋文化的歷史痕跡。除了佛堂門外，筲箕灣天后廟同樣具有悠久歷史。早年筲箕灣屬重要漁港，大量蜑家人聚居於海灣附近，漁民出海前都會前往天后廟上香祈福。每逢農曆三月二十三日天后誕，各地居民都會舉行大型祭祀活動，舞龍、舞獅與神功戲成為傳統節慶的重要部分。這些活動除了宗教意義之外，也逐漸發展成香港民間文化的重要象徵。香港的天后廟建築風格亦極具地方特色，大部分採用嶺南廟宇設計，包括灰塑、石灣陶塑、彩繪木雕與青磚結構。部分古廟雖然經歷多次重修，但仍保留清代甚至更早期的建築元素。從建築細節可以看到昔日工匠技藝，以及香港與華南地區文化交流的歷史。隨着香港由漁村逐漸發展成殖民地港口城市，天后信仰依然延續。即使到了近代，不少市民仍會在農曆新年、天后誕或重要日子前往參拜，希望祈求平安順利。對許多香港人而言，天后廟不只是宗教場所，更是一種地方記憶與身份認同。從小漁村到國際都市，天后信仰見證了香港數百年的變遷。今天遊客走進這些古老廟宇，仍能感受到香火與海風交織而成的歷史氣息。這些保存至今的天后廟，不只是香港宗教文化的重要部分，也是研究香港海洋歷史與民間生活不可缺少的珍貴遺產。

English Version
The earliest Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong are closely connected to the arrival of fishermen and maritime traders from southern China during the Song Dynasty. Among the oldest and most historically significant sites are the temples located in areas such as Joss House Bay, Shau Kei Wan, and Yuen Long. Tin Hau, originally known as Lin Moniang, was a legendary figure from Fujian who later became worshipped as the protector of sailors and coastal communities. As Hong Kong developed around the sea, early residents depended heavily on fishing, salt production, and maritime trade, allowing the worship of Tin Hau to spread rapidly throughout the Pearl River Delta. Many ancient Tin Hau temples still standing in Hong Kong date back hundreds of years, with some traditions claiming origins as early as the Southern Song period. The Tin Hau Temple at Joss House Bay in Sai Kung is often regarded as one of the oldest temples dedicated to the sea goddess in Hong Kong. Historically, Joss House Bay served as an important shelter and passage for ships travelling through eastern Hong Kong waters. Merchants and fishermen gathered there to seek safety from storms and dangerous seas, eventually contributing funds to build a temple in honour of Tin Hau. Inside the temple, visitors can still find old bells, incense burners, stone inscriptions, and traditional carvings that reveal the deep maritime roots of the region. Another historically important site is the Tin Hau Temple in Shau Kei Wan, once a thriving fishing harbour filled with boat-dwelling communities. Before setting sail, fishermen commonly visited the temple to pray for calm seas and protection. During Tin Hau Festival celebrations held on the twenty-third day of the third lunar month, large ceremonies featuring lion dances, dragon dances, Cantonese opera performances, and traditional rituals would attract crowds from nearby villages and coastal settlements. Over time, these celebrations evolved into an essential part of Hong Kong’s cultural identity. The architecture of Hong Kong’s Tin Hau temples also reflects the artistic traditions of Lingnan culture. Many temples feature elaborate ceramic figurines, colourful wood carvings, grey plaster decorations, and traditional brick structures. Although several temples underwent restoration during different historical periods, traces of Qing Dynasty craftsmanship and earlier southern Chinese architectural styles remain visible. These details reveal the cultural exchanges that once connected Hong Kong with Guangdong and Fujian coastal communities. As Hong Kong transformed from scattered fishing villages into a major colonial port and global financial centre, the worship of Tin Hau continued to survive through generations. Even today, many residents visit Tin Hau temples during Lunar New Year, festival seasons, or before important personal events to pray for peace and good fortune. For local communities, these temples represent more than religion. They embody collective memory, ancestral traditions, and the enduring relationship between Hong Kong people and the sea. Walking into one of these ancient temples today allows visitors to experience an atmosphere shaped by incense smoke, ocean winds, and centuries of local history. The surviving Tin Hau temples of Hong Kong remain among the city’s most valuable cultural landmarks, preserving stories of maritime life, migration, belief, and survival across generations.