A-Ma temple is the oldest temple in Macau and Macau itself is supposed to have derived its name from the temple. Around 400 years ago when the Portuguese came to Macau and landed on a promontory near a temple they queried from the locals as to the name of the place. The locals misunderstood the query as to mean the name of the temple and gave the temple name as ‘Ma Ge’. The Portuguese subsequently converted ‘Ma Ge’ into Macau and called their new found land by that name. Macau is a quaint blend of the old and new where influences of foreign occupations are quite evident. It is worth visiting Macau and if it is a Macau luxury hotel you require with all modern conveniences and traditional Japanese hospitality then the Hotel Okura Macau would be a good choice.
The A-Ma Temple is dedicated to the Sea Goddess Mazu who is also the Protector of Fishermen. Built in 1488 during the Ming Dynasty, the temple consists of the Gate Pavilion, the Memorial Arch, the Halls of Prayer, Benevolence (Hongren Dian) and Guanyin. The Zhengjiao Chanlin is a Buddhist Hall constructed in stone and brick. Two stone lions stand sentinel at the entrance to the temple and they are meant to ward off evil entering the temple. The curved roof of the granite gateway has beautiful ceramic fish decorating it. A winding pathway from the entrance leads to the Hongren Hall housing an illuminated statue of the Godess Mazu with her four attendants, this hall is the oldest in the complex. The granite windows are decorated with a carved lattice design. A courtyard has a large boulder with a tree inside a frame in front of it. Prayer charms flutter from it. The boulder is carved with a lorcha, the traditional junk which is supposed to have brought Mazu to Macau and the carving is over 400 years. The Avalokiteshwara Hall is dedicated to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshwara. The A-Ma Temple is a designated site of the Historic Center of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+