A-Ma Temple

A-Ma Temple
媽閣廟

A-Ma Temple, Macau
General information
Location São Lourenço
Town or city Macau
Country China
Completed 1488
A-Ma Temple

Main Hall
Traditional Chinese 媽閣廟
Literal meaning Temple of the Pavilion of the Mother

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 is 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

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

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.

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

Main article：Historic Centre of Macau
A-Ma Temple | Moorish Barracks | Mandarin's House | St Lawrence's Church | St. Joseph's Seminary and Church | Dom Pedro V Theatre | St. Augustine's Church
Sir Robert Ho Tung Library | Leal Senado Building | Sam Kai Vui Kun | Holy House of Mercy | Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady | Lou Kau Mansion | St. Dominic's Church | Ruins of St. Paul's | Na Tcha Temple
Walls of Macau | Fortaleza do Monte | St. Anthony's Church | Casa Garden | Old Protestant Cemetery (including the Macau Protestant Chapel) | Guia Fortress (including Guia Chapel and Guia Lighthouse)
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.