The construction of Lo Pan Temple in Kennedy Town was mooted and funded by local building artisans and contractors to honour Lo Pan, whom they revere as their patron saint. The temple was completed in 1888 and was rebuilt on the same site in 1928, and in 1949, a pavilion was added between the two halls and an annex was added adjacent to the temple as quarters for the temple keeper. The construction, repairs and extension of the temple paralleled the development of the construction industry in Hong Kong and the rise of local Chinese associations.
Lo Pan Temple has been graded as Grade 1 historic building and was recommended to be declared as monument in March 2024 by the Antiquities Advisory Board. With the financial assistance from Development Bureau vide its “Financial Assistance for Maintenance Scheme on Built Heritage” and the full support of Hong Kong Lo Pan Kwong Yuet Tong, the temple, including its decorations, has been restored to its former splendour.
The temple is a two-hall, one-courtyard, one-bay structure. The stepped gable walls on both sides of the temple is reputed as “Five Peaks Paying Tribute to Heaven”, a rare design in Hong Kong. The theme of the pottery ridges of the two halls of the temple is inspired by the novel “Investiture of the Gods”. The ridges are decorated on the front and rear, bringing the total number of decorated faces to four, which is rare in Hong Kong. The ridge decorations are exquisite works of a renowned pottery ridge shop named Junyu in Shiwan, Foshan.
The exhibition showcases the two-sided pottery ridge of the second hall of the temple with the depiction of the opening and final scenes of the “Investiture of the Gods”, giving prominence to the second hall of the temple where the deities are revered.
The exhibition is presented by Commissioner for Heritage's Office and Antiquities and Monuments Office of Development Bureau with the support of Hong Kong Lo Pan Kwong Yuet Tong.
Date: | 11/8/2024 – 20/9/2024 |
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Venue: | Courtyard, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre |
Opening Hours: | Monday to Wednesday and Friday: 10am – 6pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10am – 7pm Closed on Thursdays (except public holidays) |
Admission Free |