A-Ma Temple

Historic temple in São Lourenço, Macau, China
A-Ma Temple
媽閣廟
A-Ma Temple, Macau
Map
General information
Location[Barra]
Town or cityMacau
CountryChina
Completed1488
A-Ma Temple
Main Hall
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese媽閣廟
Simplified Chinese妈阁庙
Literal meaningTemple of the Pavilion of the Mother
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMā Gé Miào
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationMā Gok Miuh
Jyutpingmaa1 gok3 miu6
Southern Min
Hokkien POJMá Koh Biō
Portuguese name
PortugueseTemplo de A-Má

The A-Ma Temple is a temple to the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu located in São Lourenço, Macau, China. Built in 1488, the temple is one of the oldest in Macau and thought to be the settlement's namesake.

History

The name Macau was thought to be derived from the name of the temple. It is said that when the Portuguese sailors landed at the coast just outside the temple and asked the name of the place, the natives replied Maa-gok or A-maa-gok (lit. "The Pavilion of the Mother"). The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macau".[1] The temple was well described in ancient Chinese texts as well as represented in paintings, related to Macao. It is also one of the first scenes photographed in Macao.

In 2005, the temple became one of the designated sites of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Architecture

The temple consists of six main parts:[2] Gate Pavilion, the Memorial Arch, the Prayer Hall, the Hall of Benevolence (the oldest part of the temple), the Hall of Guanyin, Zhengjiao Chanlin - Buddhist Pavilion.

Gallery

  • A 19th-century painting of the facade of A-Ma Temple by English architect and artist Thomas Allom
    A 19th-century painting of the facade of A-Ma Temple by English architect and artist Thomas Allom
  • Main entrance of A-Ma Temple
    Main entrance of A-Ma Temple
  • World Heritage marker
    World Heritage marker
  • Prayer Hall
    Prayer Hall
  • Hall of Benevolence
    Hall of Benevolence
  • Zhengjiao Chanlin Buddhist Temple
    Zhengjiao Chanlin Buddhist Temple

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A-Ma Temple.
  1. ^ "Hakka and Macau" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  2. ^ "A-Ma Temple". Wondermondo. 14 November 2014.

22°11′10″N 113°31′52.10″E / 22.18611°N 113.5311389°E / 22.18611; 113.5311389

  • v
  • t
  • e
São Lourenço, Macau
GeographyGov'tLandmarksTransportEducation
  • v
  • t
  • e


Stub icon

This article about a Macau building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e
Stub icon

This article about a Chinese religious building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e