5 Interesting Facts about Man Mo Temple: What Travellers Should Know

While it is not unusual for a temple to be considered the earthly abode of more than one deity, the Man Mo Temple is unique in that it has been dedicated to two diametrically opposed spirits and disciplines. Devoted to both Man Cheong, the Chinese God of Literature as well as the God of War, Mo,  it is also one of Hong Kong's oldest temples. Constructed by affluent Chinese tradesmen in 1847, the building of the Man Mo Temple coincided with the first period of British colonial rule over the islands. One of the most fascinating aspects of its rich history is the fact that the temple has served as a mediator between different factions throughout the annals of time. Settling many a dispute, locals with familial and other petty grievances are known to appeal to the temple to solve various disagreements even today.

Although most tourists based at Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong or any other boutique hotel in Hong Kong will likely tour the Man Mo Temple for its beauty and cultural significance, most local devotees will flock to the temple to secure high grades in various exams. In fact, students of all ages are known to pay visits to the temple in the days or weeks leading up to important examinations and tests to secure good grades in various educational pursuits. Writers and those connected to the literary sphere are also known to pay tribute to Man Cheong for success in their careers as well as for overcoming various professional challenges.

One of the characteristic features of the Man Mo Temple is the overwhelming aroma of incense that seems to penetrate into every nook and cranny of the temple grounds. With dozens of spiral-shaped incense sticks suspended from the ceiling, it is easy to understand why this is Hong Kong's most fragrant place of worship. The spiral incense burners have become so synonymous with the temple that most tourists will snap photographs of these ancient apparatuses that have been used to draw the attention of deities since time immemorial. Visitors may also note the paper banknotes, cars, gifts and cameras for sale outside the temple as pilgrims are known to "send" these commodities to their deceased loved ones by burning the paper representations of these essential items inside the temple.

Fortune tellers and soothsayers also surround the temple compound in large numbers and this is due to the fact that the Chinese rely on Chinese Fortune Sticks to predict future events. These particular fortune sticks are stored in a separate section of the temple, and pilgrims will shake these tubes after posing a question so that one emerges. This fortune stick must then be interpreted according to the Mo Fortune Stick prophecy book by turning to the page number that corresponds with the number on the stick.

Counting exquisite sculptures and murals among its main attributes Man Mo Temple also encompasses wood carvings and traditional Chinese architectural characteristics. The use of gold and red throughout the building also means it is a space that attracts prosperity and good fortune according to Chinese beliefs.