The name of Yaumatei has close relation with the Yaumatei Tin Hau Temple. According to the record inscribed on a tablet in 1870, the land was named as "Ma Tei" (lit. jute ground). There were many shops selling sesame oil and jute. The place was re-named as Yaumatei (lit. oil and jute ground). Now, the Tin Hau Temple and Temple Street are the landmarks of Yaumatei.Tin Hau Temple:
Originally, Yaumatei was a shallow bay sheltered by a sand bank and used as a home by boat people. From 1800, Yaumatei had a temple to Tin Hau, the Goddess of Seafarers. In 1876, the town was rebuilt and the temple was moved to a new square, around which public facilities were placed. The temple was extended in the 1890s and was taken over by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in 1929. In the centre of the temple is an altar to Tin Hau. The side halls include many other altars and shrines, including important shrines to the local earth gods. The temple recently underwent a through overhaul and is now considered an esxcellent example of a traditional Chinese temple.
Temple Street:
The name of Temple Street was found in the map of Kowloon Peninsular in 1887. Since 1920, the open square in front of the temple was developed to become a wide-scale flea market and leisure ground, leading to the blooming of the hawkers and small food stalls over there. In 1968, Hong Kong Government built the Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre near the square and allocated part of Temple Street and Shanghai Street with stalls of 3ft x 4ft each by ballot for the affected stall hawkers to continue their business. In March 1975, Hong Kong Government implemented the "Hawker permitted places" with a total of 600 hawking stalls for the sale of cheap merchandise. Temple Street becomes a world-renowned spot of local interest and flea market for the tourist.
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Photo equipment:
Nikon D300s, Nikon GP-1 GPS
AF-DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6
645 PRO for iPhone 5
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油麻地之名與油麻地天后廟有密切關係。根據天后廟內1870年（同治九年）所立碑記，當時該地稱為「蔴地」。不少經營補漁船的桐油及麻纜商店在那裡開設，故改稱為「油蔴地」(油麻地)。現在，天后廟和廟街成為油麻地著名地標。
天后廟：
昔日，油麻地是淺灣旁的一個沙洲，漁民在此碇泊安居。漁民篤信海神天后，因此興建天后廟供奉，油麻地的天后廟約建於1800年。到了1876年，該區進行重建，天后廟搬到榕樹頭，廟宇附近有各種公共設施。1890年代，此廟再次擴建，至1929年由東華三院接管。廟內，中庭為供奉天后的祭壇，兩旁有不少神壇和祠堂，用以祭祠不同的神祗。近年，天后廟再度大規模修葺，陳設更見細緻光鮮，實為一所別具特色的傳統廟宇。
廟街：
廟街早於1887年的九龍地圖上已有紀錄。由1920年代開始，天后廟對出的廣場（俗稱「榕樹頭」），開始發展成大笪地式的休憩場地，帶動了廟街附近不少販賣雜物及小食攤檔的存在。1968年，香港政府在天后廟的廣場的附近興建梁顯利社區服務中心，並在廟街及上海街近榕樹頭一帶劃出面積3呎乘4呎的攤位以抽籤分配給受影響的攤檔作安置之用。1975年3月，香港市政局在廟街劃出「小販認可區」，使廟街共有近600多個劃定位置供小販擺賣，售賣廉價的貨品，成為外國遊客的旅遊購物景點之一。
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Tin Hau Temple ● 天后廟
(Click photo for a larger view)
(Click photo for a larger view)
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| The Tin Hau Temple has a history of 200 years. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @18mm, f/4.5, 1/30sec, ISO 640 已有二百多年歷史的油麻地天后古廟 |
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| The landmarks: the square and the decorated archway Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @18mm, f/4.5, 1/320sec, ISO 640 油麻地地標：榕樹頭和牌樓 |
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| A new community centre in an old community Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @18mm, f/4.0, 1/500sec, ISO 1000 舊社區，新建設。 |
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| The temple has sides halls of other altars and shrines. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @18mm, f/4.5, 1/20sec, ISO 640 天后古廟兩旁建有恭奉其他神祇的廟宇 |
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| In addition to money, people here can find the sustenance of life and hope. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @34mm, f/4.5, 1/500sec, ISO 640 除了金錢，人民在這裡也可以找到人生的寄托和希望。 |
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| Peace and tranquility are good for a nap which is a pleasure in life! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @18mm, f/4.5, 1/30sec, ISO 640 清幽寧靜訪周公乃人生一樂也！ |
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| A good nap! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @105mm, f/5.3, 1/30sec, ISO 640 清休！ |
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| Circles, layers and the tragedies of the stacked, are curl of smoke. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @200mm, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 1000 一圈圈、一層層、一曡疊，都是裊裊清煙。 |
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| Each coil of the incense represents the endless praying for and blessing of the worshipers. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @135mm, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 640 每一柱清香，都代表了善信無窮的祈盼和祝福。 |
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| Carved beams and decorated columns are only mounted appearance, sincerity and goodwill are innate beauty. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @70mm, f/5.0, 1/40sec, ISO 1000 雕樑柱飾裝外貌，誠心善意真內涵。 |
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| Source of good faith: temple can have peace of mind, police to ensure law and order! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @55mm, f/4.8, 1/60sec, ISO 1000 信心之源：廟宇可得心安，警察確保治安！ |
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| Reflection of the duckweed is more real and much better than floating light and slight shadow! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @44mm, f/4.5, 1/400sec, ISO 1000 「浮萍水影」比「浮光略影」來得真實得多！ |
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| Watching chess without a word is chess rule, we have to abide by social norms either. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @80mm, f/5.0, 1/20sec, ISO 1000 觀棋不語是弈棋規則，社會規範也要遵從。 |
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| The clouds are difficult to touch and mount. We have to treasure those upfront and easily accessible. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @130mm, f/5.6, 1/25sec, ISO 1000 浮雲祇可遠觀難觸摸，眼前的雖然輕易可及，但要珍惜。 |
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| Do not let things trouble you because of their size, true or false, distance. Look carefully and think deeply, the essence is the same! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @135mm, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1000 不要為眼前一些事物的大小、虛實、遠近而煩惱和執著，長加看看，細心想想，本質都是一樣！ |
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Temple Street ● 廟街
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| Whether silver jewelry is real or steel carving stainless, the changes of Temple Street over time are all the more precious and meaningful! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @112mm, f/5.3, 1/500sec, ISO 640 不論真銀首飾，不銹鋼雕，也不及廟街的風雲歲月來得珍貴具意義！ |
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| Even a weak woman is able to fight for a hard living, such spirit won't let her down. Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @18mm, f/4.5, 1/100sec, ISO 640 生活艱難便要龫活，這種拼搏精神，也難不到一個弱質女子。 |
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| The ornaments upfront can beautify the appearance, but never can they cover up one's intrinsic hardship and bitterness! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @24mm, f/4.0, 1/250sec, ISO 1000 眼前的飾物可以美化外貌，卻掩飾不到背後的拼搏和辛酸！ |
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| In addition to collaboration, to light up Temple Street also relies on an electricity wire! Nikon D300s, 18-200mm f/2.5-5.6 @18mm, f/4.0, 1/125sec, ISO 1000 燃亮廟街，通火燈明，群策群力，全頼一線牽！ |
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| Whether tycoons or workers, they must all rely on the lights for shining and brightness and for what they choose! 645 PRO for iPhone 5 @4.13mm, f/2.4, 1/25sec, ISO 50 不論是大亨還是幹活的，都要靠著燈火，發光發亮，各取所需！ |
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View Tin Hau Temple in a larger map
Good pictures with excellent documentations.
ReplyDelete这一辑作品展示出很浓郁的不同宗教特色，很有意义。特喜欢作品【不論是大亨還是幹活的，都要靠著燈火，發光發亮，各取所需！】我想猜一猜：你这一张是抓拍吧？哈哈！猜二：照片中隐藏一个信息是人活着需要光（耶稣基督為生命光）生命就有喜乐，平安和盼望！照片中主角在灯光下阅报（享受精神粮食）是有福的！ Then Jesus declared,"I am the bread of life.He who comes to me will never go hungry,and he who belives in me will never be thirsty".(John 6:35)
ReplyDeleteDerek: 沒錯，照片是用iPhone 5抓拍的，取其不顯眼。我走到檔前，迅速拍下，以免被他發覺。很佩服你從這張照片看到內裡有關「光」的哲理玄機。很高興你有細微的觀察力和寫下具意義的感言。謝謝!
Delete這輯照片帶給我不少兒時回憶。佐敦是我孩提時生活的地方，在50年代，佐敦一帶多是戰前舊樓，即建築物有用以支撑騎樓的柱子豎立在馬路邊之行人道上，柱子多被店舖漆上招牌及生意性質，亦常被人利用貼上街招。在當年，當地街坊慣將廟街分兩段稱呼以識別居住區分，即以佐敦道為界，在南面一段(即由快樂戲院舊址至柯士甸道)稱為廟南街，而佐敦道以北一段仍稱之為廟街或廟北街。柯士甸道以南一帶是山崗，當年乃英軍軍營所在(即現時的九龍公園)，沿柯士甸道山邊闢有多個防空洞，戰後洞口已用磚石封閉。軍營入口當年用印度兵站崗，故街坊稱該處為〝摩囉山兵房〞。沿佐敦道西去，到達九龍佐治五世公園後已是海傍，為當年佐敦道渡海小輪碼頭所在。記得當年在碼頭觀看人們釣魚，有人竟能釣得〝紅衫〞，當年維港水質之佳可想而知。
ReplyDeleteDavid: 多謝分享你對油麻地佐敦道一帶的昔日情懷。資料生動詳盡!
DeleteI have learned a lot about history of Yaumatei. I like the coils of incense.
ReplyDeleteHi Peter:
ReplyDeleteYour recent photos of Hong Kong really brought back good memories of our younger days. You've been in Hong Kong for a few months now, are you gonna come back to Toronto at all?
这一专辑中的【Temple Street ● 廟街】觉得很有意义！十架的彰显。特别是【燃亮廟街，通火燈明，群策群力，全頼一線牽！】主耶稣基督的光在作品中说活了！绝妙！
ReplyDelete