Introduction

A-Ma Temple is situated in the southeast peninsula of Macau. It was constructed during the Ming Dynasty in the year 1488  to commemorate Mazu who is believed to be the sacred sea goddess who gives blessings to fishermen. The goddess was an intelligent child for her age and was  born in Putian City and her name was Lin Mo. The goddess was able to predict luck both good and bad and even after her death she was able to guide fishermen and merchants to be safe. What remains to date are tens of folktales narrated to commemorate the great goddess.

One of the most famous tales is the one that says that she was looking for a way to get to Guangdong from Fujian but almost all captains denied her entry into their boats. However, a humble fisherman volunteered to take her with him but while en route a mighty storm hit the sea wrecking all the boats except theirs displaying her magical powers that brought her and the fisherman safely to Macau. On arrival she vanished but she later appeared as a goddess at the location where the temple is located to date.

The name of the temple came about through misinterpretation of two different languages 400 years ago when the Portuguese landed on a sea. On arrival they asked the locals the name of the area but they did not understand the visitors due to language barrier and thought that the Portuguese were asking for the name of the temple yet they were asking for the name of the area. So they told them the name is Ma Ge and the Portuguese translated the name in their language as Macau which is the name that came to be of the area.

Things to see and do in A-Ma Temple

The A-Ma Temple is the best place to unwind and relax. It is subdivided into different sections in a typical Chinese style architecture.

Hongren Hall of A-Ma Temple

At the entrance the temple is guarded by stone lions followed by the Hongren Hall which is also known as the First Palace of the Holy Mountain. The hall is built in 1605 and was later restored in 1629 consecutively through to 1975 after it succumbed to a destructive fire. The statue of Mazu is located at the Hongren hall where people worship it and pay tribute to her greatness. The hall is also considered to have the longest history as compared to the other halls in the temple.

Traditional boat of A-Ma Temple

After the Hongren Hall is a Traditional junk boat locally known as a lorcha. The lorcha was carved 4000 years ago to symbolize the boat that carried A-Ma to Macau.

Hall of Avalokitesvara of A-Ma Temple

After the Hongren Hall is the Hall of Avalokitesvara designed in the most minimalistic form using stones and bricks alone. This hall is considered the simplest location of the temple. Another hall in this complex is the Zhengjiao Chanlin hall which is a Buddhist Hall bearing unique features ready to be discovered by visitors.

Hall of Benevolence at A-Ma Temple

While on a visit tourists can also see the rich culture of the area displayed in carved inscriptions and different poems on display. Next to this is the Hall of Benevolence which is the smallest chamber in the compound and was the original worship place of the goddess. Part of its design is made up of natural rocks built sympathetically.

Hall of Kun Iam of A-Ma Temple

The Hall of Kun Iam is the highest point of the temple. At the Hall of Kun Iam, there is a platform where visitors can have a comprehensive and exceptional view of the complex from the inside to the outside of the Macau harbor. Visitors can watch ships passing and docking.

Culture of A-Ma Temple

For visitors who get to the temple during the famous Chinese New Year, they can take part and celebrate the birthday of Mazu seeing male and female disciples burning incense, praying for good luck and paying homage to the great goddess.

Architecture of A-Ma Temple

The temple has unique architectural designs to detail in each and every corner. From the windows carved in lattice, walls made from granite to the reflective roofs enhancing the features of the different halls. In addition, there are upturned roof ridges which are the most distinct of the features of the temple. At the main hall the roof is made of high flush gable that can protect the temple from fire and enhances the beauty of the hall. The roofs are further decorated by colourful reliefs of birds and lions under the eaves.