Hong Kong Snapshot(116) A temple in the middle of the pavement 香港隨拍(116) 路中心有一座廟

After introducing Kwun Yum Temple and Lux Theatre in the last two posts, I kept hanging around Hung Hoi District. Then I found a small, old temple in the middle of the pavement? Yes, the temple is just at the center of the T shape pavement blocking the way. Of course, a temple wouldn’t be built in the middle of the pavement without reason. It’s the Fuk Tak Temple which was built in the late Song Dynasty. Till now, it’s almost 800 years.

在介紹完上兩期的觀音廟和寶石戲院後，我繼續漫步於紅磡街頭。走著走著，竟發現在路中心有一座廟？這座廟剛好在一個T形行人路的中央，把路全擋住了。當然，我們不會無故由來的把一座廟建在路中心的，這座小廟其實大有來頭，它叫福德古廟，建於宋朝年間，至今已有差不多八百年的歷史了！

Who is Fuk Tak? It’s the “God of Soil and Ground”, which can be defined as land and village. Fuk Tak is the most common God in HK. You can even find his statue on the street, under the tree or outside a house. There was also one in my home. According to legend, Fuk Tak was a servant. One day his master just left home for a government position, letting her daughter. So Fuk Tak took the little daughter to find him. In the long trip, there was heavy snow and Fuk Tak took off all the clothes for the little daughter and died. His action touched the Heaven and he was appointed to be the ‘Fuk Tak Lord, God of the heavily Southern Gate’. His master built a temple for him and the worship was spread to now.

福德是誰？就是土地公公。土地公應該是香港最普遍的神靈了，你可能在路旁、井邊、樹下、村口都能見到土地公，以前我家也有拜土地公。相傳土地公以前是一僕人張福德，主人登官遠去留下幼女，福德就帶女尋父，途中還到風雪，老僕人就把身上衣服脫下讓幼女保䁔，結果幼女存活，老僕人卻凍死。此舉感動了神靈，故他臨終前天上出現了「南天門大仙福德正神」九字，封其為忠僕。其主人後來為他建廟，留傳至今。

Fuk Tak is the god of protecting the land so it is common in Chinese society. You have to worship him no matter you are living, moving, traveling or working at a place. Decades ago, there is Fuk Tak in every home of HK. Now, there are over 10 Fuk Tak Temple in HK and the oldest one should the Hung Hom Fuk Tak Temple.

福德正神現在是守護土地的神，故十分常見，不論是居住、旅行、工作，你去到一個地方都要求土地神保佑。在幾十年前，香港可是家家戶戶都拜土地神，直到近年新一代宗教意識較薄弱才有轉變。香港有十多間福德廟，但數歷史悠久，必是這紅磡的福德古廟。

Why is this temple in the middle of the pavement? Because it’s already here a hundred years ago! In around 1970s, the HK government started the develop the Hung Hom district. The government planned to dismantle the temple and so didn’t consider it’s position. But it was strongly opposed by the residents. Finally, the temple was kept and just stayed in the middle of the pavement.

為什麼這福德古廟會在這路中央？因為他幾百年前就在這裡，一直受到紅磡居民的拜祭。約在1970年代，香港政府開發紅磡黃埔一帶，本來就打算拆了這廟，根本沒有考慮過這廟擋不擋路，結果卻遭到附近居民大力反對，最後政府同意保留這廟，就造成了現在廟在路中央了。

Up till now, there are still a lot of people worshiping the Fuk Tak God of the temple. When I was photoing there were already 4-5 people worshipping. There is no staff in the temple. It’s just operated by people voluntary donating. If you wish I believe it’s easy for you to steal the money. But I don’t guarantee you can be safe if discovered by the residents haha.

至今，這廟仍有很多人侍奉，在我拍照的數分鐘間，已有四五名居民上香了。這廟也沒有廟祝，就靠市民自己拿香添香油，你想的話，應該是很容易偷走香油錢的，但如被居民發現，能不能平安離去，就不是我能擔保的了～

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