confucius say confused

Today we visited what our little guide brochure terms one of the most popular temples in Hong Kong - the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple. Long name, right? Well, I think I've figured out its moniker.

You see, this temple is used as a place of worship for those who practice Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. And toss in a few nuns - because they were wandering around too. It's like this garbled cacophony of religion, hoards of people waving incense around. They grab it by the fist full here - light it, and then walk around with their smoking torch, waving it at themselves, at the shrine, at the sky, doing a little bowing, some circling, before depositing it in one of several locations (much different from Japan's Buddhism where a single stick is lit and quietly placed in the urn).

To get into the main shrine, you literally wait in line - and it's barred off like you'd find at Disneyland. Only instead of a room full of pirates, you get a room full of people kneeling and bowing and shaking cups of sticks. (I'm not quite sure of the significance of this stick shaking practice.) There are also gardens and additional wishing paths and ponds - obvious additions randomly tacked on, as if the religious ruckus wasn't enough.

So I'm thinking the name of the temple reflects how confused it really is. Like they couldn't decide which name because they couldn't decide which religion to focus on.

However, in all seriousness, I think this place of worship is a reflection of the general confused nature of Hong Kong. It's an interesting place - you can literally feel that they are trying to figure out who they are, and you can see that it isn't an easy process.

NOTE: If you consult Wikipedia, you'll learn that the temple is generally known as simply the Wong Tai Sin Temple, which was dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, otherwise known as The Great Immortal Wong. Probably I can't say that without giggling.

Also, I included captions on these pictures so be sure to get your extra commentary in the slide show.