糧船灣天后誕
Leung Shuen Wan (High Island) Tin Hau Festival

糧船灣天后誕
Leung Shuen Wan (High Island) Tin Hau Festival

天后誕是糧船灣年度盛事，對「糧船灣人」而言，其重要性超越農曆新年及個人生日，備受期待與重視。正誕於農曆三月二十三日舉行，祈求水陸平安及酬謝神恩。有「小屆」及「大屆」之分。節日前夕，村民會潔淨神像、布置廟宇及搭建戲棚。正誕則進行舞獅、舞麒麟、神功戲、抽花炮會等慶祝活動，信眾帶備供品上香敬拜。整個節慶維持數日，氣氛熱鬧，吸引不少遊人前來觀賞並參與祭祀。

The Tin Hau Festival is an annual grand occasion in Leung Shuen Wan. For the “Leung Shuen Wan People,” its significance surpasses that of the Lunar New Year and individual birthdays, making it a highly anticipated and cherished event. The main festival falls on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, serving as an occasion to pray for safety on land and sea and to give thanks to the goddess for her blessings. The celebration is distinguished between a “Small Festival” and a “Big Festival.” On the eve of the festival, villagers clean the deity statues, decorate the temple, and erect a bamboo shed for Chinese opera performances. On the main festival day itself, celebratory activities such as lion dances, Hakka unicorn dances, ritual Cantonese opera performances, and a fa-pao drawing (lottery for festive prizes) take place, with devotees bringing offerings to burn incense and pay homage. The entire celebration lasts for several days, creating a lively atmosphere that attracts many visitors who come to watch and participate in the rituals.

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國家級非物質文化遺產
National Intangible Cultural Heritage


每年農曆三月二十三日，香港各個沿海漁村都會熱鬧地慶祝天后誕。香港天后誕乃香港非物質文化遺產代表作名錄項目，亦為國家級非物質文化遺產代表性項目名錄之一。糧船灣天后誕分為「小屆」與「大屆」。大屆的特色在於其較長的慶典時間，內容包括神功戲、太平清醮以及天后海上出巡（媽娘出遊）。大屆於雙數年份舉行，日期為農曆三月十九至三月二十四日（為期六日五夜），規模較為盛大。小屆則於單數年份舉行，日期為農曆三月二十二至二十三日，規模相對較小。值得注意的是，糧船灣天后誕的日期與西貢區內其他地區（坑口、西貢市）的天后誕有所不同。

天后誕期間，糧船灣洋溢著節日氣氛，居民一同上香祭拜，祈求風調雨順、出海平安。鑼鼓喧天、舞獅與歡笑聲交織在一起，彩旗隨風飄揚，場面熱鬧非凡。慶典維持數天，展現出人們對天后娘娘的真摯感恩與深厚信仰。

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Tin Hau Festival is an annual grand occasion in Hong Kong’s coastal fishing villages, celebrated with vibrant festivities on the 23rd day of the third lunar month. The Tin Hau Festival in Hong Kong is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. It is also included in the national-level list of Representative Items of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Festival is distinguished between a “Small Festival” and a “Big Festival”. The Big Festival is characterized by its longer celebration period, featuring ritual Cantonese opera performances, a Tai Ping Ching Chiu (Purification Ritual), and the Tin Hau Sea Parade. The Big Festival is held in even-numbered years, from the 19th to the 24th day of the third lunar month (lasting six days and five nights) and is on a grander scale. The Small Festival, held in odd-numbered years, takes place from the 22nd to the 23rd day of the third lunar month and is relatively smaller in scale. It is noteworthy that the dates of the Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Festival differ from those celebrated in other areas within Sai Kung District, such as Hang Hau and Sai Kung Town. During the Tin Hau Festival, Leung Shuen Wan is filled with a festive atmosphere. Residents come together to offer incense and prayers, wishing for favourable weather and safety at sea. The air is filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, lion dances, and laughter, while colourful flags flutter in the wind, creating a lively and spectacular scene. The celebration lasts for several days, showcasing the people’s sincere gratitude and deep devotion to Tin Hau (Goddess of the Sea).

糧船灣天后宮歷史
History of the Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple

糧船灣的天后宮超過四百年歷史，為村民的信仰中心。
The Tin Hau Temple in Leung Shuen Wan, with a history of over 400 years, serves as the spiritual centre of the village.

每年天后誕，村民都會籌備慶典，準備祭品供奉，以酬謝神恩。
Every year for the Tin Hau Festival, villagers organise celebrations and prepare offerings to express their gratitude to the goddess.

糧船灣天后誕，其天后出巡及神功戲等傳統已數百年歷史，早期曾聘請粵劇「紅船」戲班演出。
The Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Festival features traditions with several hundred years of history, including the Tin Hau Sea Parade and ritual Cantonese opera performances. In the early days, “Red Boat” opera troupes were hired to perform.

即使漁業式微，節日仍由村民及舊居民持續舉辦，成為當地年度盛事。
Even though the fishing industry has declined, the festival continues to be organised by villagers and former residents, remaining an annual grand occasion for the community.

糧船灣天后宮---四寶
Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple — Four Treasures

廟內供奉天后娘娘及多位神明，並藏有四件珍貴古物——乾隆銅鐘、一組清光緒十一年（1885年）的精美木雕、天后誕天后娘娘坐著出海巡遊的龍轎，以及一座龍頭（據說廟內原有一鴨嘴龍頭，朽爛後改為現時的龍頭），見證著這座超過四百年歷史古廟的深厚文化底蘊。

The temple houses statues of Tin Hau and several other deities, and preserves four precious artefacts—the ancient bell, the Guangxu period altar carving, a dragon boat heat (there was originally a wooden carving of a duck-billed mythical creature in the temple, but it was replaced with a dragon’s head when it deteriorated), and a dragon sedan chair which Tin Hau statue put on it during sea parade on Tin Hau Festival—bearing witness to the profound cultural heritage of this historic temple, which has stood for over 400 years.

乾隆銅鐘

乾隆銅鐘
Ancient Bell


用生鐵鑄造的「古鐘」，重二百多斤，上面刻着「沐恩眾信弟子盧楚榮、周君本、王家棟仝發誠心處鑄鳴鐘一員，重貳百斤，敬在糧船灣天后娘娘殿前，永遠供奉，萬福攸同，旨乾隆六年歲此辛酉孟夏穀旦吉日仝建立隆盛爐造。」，前後亦分別鐫刻著「風調雨順」及「國泰民安」此八個大字。

The “Ancient Bell,” cast from pig iron and weighing over 200 catties, bears an inscription: “Dedicated by the grace-favored disciples and devotees Lu Chor-wing, Chau Kwan-bun, and Wong Ka-tung, who sincerely commissioned the casting of one bell, weighing 200 catties, to be presented before the shrine of Tin Hau (Goddess

of the Sea) in Leung Shuen Wan, for eternal veneration and shared blessings. Cast on an auspicious day in the early summer of the sixth year of the Qianlong reign (1741 AD) under the Qing Dynasty at the prosperous Lung Shing Foundry.” The bell is also inscribed on opposite sides with the eight

 

龍頭

 

龍頭
Dragon Boat Head


相傳每當端午節龍船競賽時，將這龍頭裝嵌在龍船頭上，龍角綁上彩帶和茅草出賽，便會百戰百勝，聞說這可能是早期龍船灣名稱的由來。

Legend has it that whenever this dragon head was mounted onto a dragon boat during the Dragon Boat Festival races, with its horns adorned with colourful pennants and cogongrass, the boat would be invincible in every race. It is said that this may be the origin of the name “Loong Chuen Wan” (Dragon Boat Bay).

 

糧船灣天后誕 早期相片 b004 龍轎

龍頭 2

龍轎
Dragon Sedan Chair


每逢天后誕，天后娘娘便會坐着龍橋出海巡遊。 1994年天后宮重修時，按照傳統需將廟內舊有的供奉祭祀用品火化，還給天后娘娘。當時的區域市政局博物館（現香港文化博物館）總館長獲悉後，尋得眾地區人士協助徵求捐贈，糧船灣值理會及村中父老以「聖杯」問准天后娘娘後，便擇吉日進行隆重的捐贈儀式，將該批百年歷史文物轉贈予博物館保存、修復翻新及定期展出，而館方則複製一套新的贈送給天后宮。

During the annual Tin Hau Festival, Tin Hau (Goddess of the Sea) is carried on a dragon sedan chair to patrol the sea. When the Tin Hau Temple underwent renovation in 1994, tradition required that the old ceremonial items and sacrificial offerings within the temple be cremated and returned to Tin Hau. Upon learning of this, the then Chief Curator of the Regional Council Museum (now the Hong Kong Heritage Museum) sought assistance from local figures to request a donation. After receiving approval from Tin Hau through the casting of moon blocks (shing pui) by the Leung Shuen Wan Committee and village elders, an auspicious date was chosen for a formal donation ceremony. This collection of century-old artifacts was transferred to the museum for preservation, restoration, and periodic exhibition, while the museum presented a newly crafted replica set to the Tin Hau Temple.
光緒十一年木雕

木雕
Wooden Cravings


光緒十一年木雕 神枱浮雕：［清光緒十一年（1885）］：香案下段的浮雕栩栩如生，講述「薛剛反唐」故事中薛剛與廬陵王在九煉山預備攻入長安的情況。

Wooden Cravings: 11th Year of the Guangxu Reign, Qing Dynasty (1885 AD) The relief carvings on the lower section of the incense altar are exceptionally lifelike, depicting a scene from the story of “Xue Gang’s Revolt” in which Xue Gang and the Prince of Luling prepare to attack Chang’an from Jiulian Mountain.

 

糧船灣天后宮重修歷史
Renovation History of the Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple

糧船灣天后宮是三級歷史建築，曾經歷多次重修，最早於光緒癸未年（1883），於1970年，1998年亦有重修。最近一次大規模的維修工程於2013年竣工，總計花費港幣五百萬元，此筆經費乃由廣大水陸居民及海外華僑熱心捐助而成。並加建塔香室讓善信祈福，更設立文物館，展示過往曾用於祭祀的物品。
The Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple is a Grade III Historic Building. It has undergone several renovations throughout its history, with the earliest recorded restoration taking place in the Gui Wei year of the Guangxu reign (1883), followed by further renovations in 1970 and 1998. The most recent large-scale renovation project was completed in 2013, at a total cost of HKD five million. This funding was generously donated by members of the local land and sea communities, as well as overseas Chinese. The renovation included the addition of a spiral incense chamber where devotees can pray for blessings. Furthermore, a heritage hall (museum) was established to display ceremonial items used in worship in the past.
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甚麼是「緣首」？
What are “Yuen Sau” (Ritual Leaders)?


「緣首」身穿清朝士兵的服裝 ，藍身長衫、頭戴竹竺 、其責任十分重大，他們代表整個糧船灣的社區參與打醮（太平清醮），負責將水陸居民建醮的祈求傳達給神明。負責擲杯並會負責抬天后的轎子。儀式中各個決定都要通過擲聖杯來顯示天后的意願。例如出巡前後，緣首會在天后面前擲聖杯以決定出巡時間及回程時間 。

「緣首」亦要「行朝」:農曆三月十九日「晚朝」，二十及二十一日有「早朝」、「午朝」、「晚朝」，由喃嘸老師帶領，「緣首」將環繞天后廟後方的山坡，向山上的土地公及其他神明進行參拜。在三月二十二日， 天后出巡前的早上更要「行大朝」， 由天后宮，往東丫、沙橋、北丫走一圈。象徵在天后誕(正誕)前潔淨社區。

糧船灣天后誕2012年 b003

The Yuen Sau (Ritual Leaders) wear costumes resembling those of Qing Dynasty soldiers: a blue long gown and a bamboo hat. Their responsibilities are of great importance, as they represent the entire Leung Shuen Wan community in participating in the Tai Ping Ching Chiu (Purification Ritual). They are responsible for conveying the prayers of the land and water communities during the Jiao Festival to the deities. They are tasked with casting the moon blocks (poe) and carrying the sedan chair of Tin Hau. Every decision during the rituals must be made by casting the moon blocks to reveal Tin Hau’s will. For example, before and after the sea patrol, the Yuen Sau cast moon blocks before Tin Hau to determine the departure and return times.

The Yuen Sau also perform the “Hang Chiu” (Procession Rituals): On the evening of the 19th day of the third lunar month, the “Evening Procession” begins. On the 20th and 21st days, there are “Morning Processions,” “Noon Processions,” and “Evening Processions.” Led by Taoist priests (nam mo masters), the Yuen Sau circle the hillslope behind the Tin Hau Temple to pay homage to the Earth God and other deities on the hill. On the morning of the 22nd day of the third lunar month, before the Tin Hau Sea Parade, the “Tai Hang Chiu” (Grand Procession) is performed, circling from the Tin Hau Temple to Tung A, Sha Kiu, and Pak A. This symbolizes the cleansing of the community before the Tin Hau Festival (the main festival day).