The history of Che Kung Temple in Shatin

According to legend, Che Gong was a brave general in the late Southern Song Dynasty. His native place was Wufu, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. He was awarded the title of Grand Marshal for his contribution in pacifying the rebellion in the south of the Yangtze River. Later, the Mongolian army invaded the territory, and the Song army was unable to resist and retreated steadily. Emperor Song went south and fled to Hong Kong. At that time, the driver was also escorting the driver, but unfortunately he died of illness on the way. The villagers worshiped him as a god after his death because they remembered him for his loyalty and bravery during his lifetime.

There are two different legends about the establishment of Che Kung Temple in Tai Wai. One is related to the suppression of the plague, and the other is related to the Feng Shui of the opening of Tin Sum Village. During the Chongzhen period of the late Ming Dynasty, epidemics suddenly occurred in various parts of the New Territories. Local villagers studied history books and county annals and found that Marshal Che was not only effective in defeating thieves, but also stopped epidemics wherever he went. Therefore, temples were built to pray for the epidemic to stop. Sure enough, on the day the temple was built, the epidemic no longer appeared.

Another legend is that when Tianxin Village was founded in the past, a Feng Shui master was hired to survey the village and found that three rivers converged here in front of the village. At the same time, there is a protruding mountain on the back, which has excellent Feng Shui. It is most suitable for building a temple. In addition to serving as a water outlet, it can also make the village prosperous in the future. Therefore, the villagers raised funds to build this temple there to worship Marshal Che.

The Che Kung Temple in Tai Wai has a long history. It is listed as one of the four major temples in Hong Kong, along with the Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan, the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Chuk Yuen, and the Grand Temple at Fo Tong Mun. Because of its peculiar geographical environment, the mountain is supported by the round Taiyin Venus. It was built at the foot of the left side of the mountain, which is the construction method of "Taiyin Yijiao" in Feng Shui. There is also a toad stone (Yingxing stone) on the top of the mountain. There are Lion Mountain and Wangfu Mountain guarding the left front, and Needle Mountain guarding the nobles in the right front. The tributary of the Chengmen River meanders from the right front of the temple to the front of the temple, so it is conducive to seeking partial wealth.