The temple of the Lords of the Three Mountains 三山國王廟

The temple of the Lords of the Three Mountains is in Ngau Chi Wan Village on the eastern Kowloon Peninsular. It is a small temple that is of double significance to me.

Firstly, It is a familiar temple that I have known since my early childhood.  I was passing by the temple everyday when I was walking from home to school in Ngau Tau Kok. it was already 40 odd years. Recently I visited this temple again and met the village kid in my childhood. He is now the acolyte of the temple and has been there for over 10 years. We enjoyed  sharing and reminiscing the events in the past.

Secondly, its history is significant as it was built in 1800, more than 200 years. The temple worships lords of the three mountains in Guangdong Province. Now the temple is located beside Ping Shek Estate, by the side of Kwun Tong Road. As the temple is in a traffic hub, it was the office of the federation of the 13 villages in Eastern Kowloon Peninsular since the event of the demolition of the Chuk Yuen Village in 1957.  It was accorded as Grade 2 status by the Antiquities Advisory Board of Hong Kong.

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Photo equipment:
Nikon D300s, Nikon GP-1 GPS
AF-DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 

三山國王廟，位於香港的九龍東部，屬於牛池灣村。這是一個細小的廟，對我來說，卻有兩重意義。第一，這是我自童年已熟悉的廟宇。三山國王廟是我童年每天上學必經的廟宇。距今已有四十多年了。最近重臨三山國王廟，遇見童年同村的朋友，現在擔任此廟的「廟祝」已有十多年了！童年往事，我們都能憶述得娓娓動聽。

第二，從廟宇的歷史來看，三山國王建於1800年，清朝嘉慶初年，距今已有二百多年的歷史。廟中供奉的三王，相傳是廣東的三位山神。現時的三山國王廟在坪石邨側，在觀塘道旁。正因為三山國王廟向來就是附近鄊村的樞紐，在1957年，因竹園村遷拆事件，它成為整個東九龍十三個鄉村聨盟組䄉的所在地。香港古物處定為香港二級歷史建築。

A panoramic view of the temple
三山國王廟全景照

The traditional temple has a history of over 200 years and the building is well kept with 4 restorations since the World War.  The red wall and the two big lanterns are attractive.  In my childhood, I was passing the temple everyday when I walked from home in Ngau Chi Wan to attend school in Ngau Tau Kok.  I would take the stairs to Kwun Tong Road to continue the trip to Ngau Tau Kok.
傳統廟宇建築的三山國王廟，經過二百多年，仍然保留得相當好，皆因經過戰後四次的重修。全紅的外牆，主殿入門的兩個大燈籠相當吸引。童年時，每天從牛池灣走路到牛頭角上學，必定經過這廟，再沿石級上觀塘道往牛頭角去。

Brother Ming, a village kid in my childhood, now becomes the acolyte of the historical temple!
當年的村童明哥，現已成為廟祝公了！

The incense coils inside the temple
廟內的香

Image on the waters
水上人影

The high-rises across the street is Richland Gardens whereas the 2-storey building was the base of the Hong Kong Royal Air Force.  It became a Vietnamese refugee camp in the 80s.  Now it is the Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre.
對面是麗晶花園。兩層的建築原是香港皇家空軍基地，八十年代改為越南難民營，現在是明愛向晴軒家庭危機處理中心。

Temple window:  I love the visual effect of the wall, window, lantern composed in a wall of red color.
廟窗：我喜歡廟牆、廟窗、燈籠在一片紅牆構成的視覺效果。

The gently and misty smoke has generated lots of affection!  I took a series of smoky incense sticks in close distant of 3 inches with narrow depth of field and faster shutter.
裊裊軽煙，送出無限人間情意！我將相機靠近香煙約三吋距離，用淺景深和高速快門拍下連串的輕煙。

Drifting and misty smoke represents peace and freedom in human lives!
輕煙，代表著人世的飄逸。

Drifting and misty smoke may let some people look through the world of mortals!
輕煙，也許會令人看破紅塵!

Drifting and misty smoke emits one's prayer!
輕煙，飄散著人間的祈福!

An incense burner of high historical value
具歷史價值的香爐

The federation of the 13 villages of Kowloon was located in the temple in the 60s. (archive photo)
六十年代九龍十三鄊委員會會址 (檔案照片)

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