Seeking divination (求籤) to Treasury Opening (開庫) Hong Kong temples always responsive to requests

Wong Tai Sin Temple(黃大仙祠), renowned for its accurate divinations

"Wong Tai Sin responds to all requests" has deeply rooted in people's mind, reflecting the fame of Wong Tai Sin Temple to some extent. The main deity worshipped at Wong Tai Sin Temple is the Taoist deity Wong Chuping. It is believed that divination here is very accurate, and many visitors have learned to come here to worship. Worshippers purchase incense, candles, and offerings from stalls outside the temple. Inside the temple, they proceed to three locations to light incense, first at the platform of main alter(大殿平台) , then at the Three Saints Hall(三聖堂), and finally at the Yue Heung Pavilion (盂香亭). The temple provides directions on where to go, and worshippers only need to light three incense sticks at each location, totalling nine sticks.

Worshippers typically stand in front of the main alter, express their situations to the deity, bow three times, and then put it into the incense burner. After greeting various deities, worshippers can approach the divination box on the left side of the main alter to draw a divination stick. According to temple staff, with sincere intentions, it is easy to receive guidance—the first stick that falls out is the answer. After noting the stick number, returning the divination box, worshippers can proceed to have their divination interpreted. Many worshippers visit the divination interpretation center on the left side of the main alter to have the text explained. Usually, the fee is no more than 50 Hong Kong dollars. Most divination stalls also provide services such as fortune-telling, reading annual luck(看流年), and analyzing horoscopes(看八字), some even offer services in Japanese, showcasing internationalization.

Visitors can also enter the offerings market on the left side of the main entrance, where they can purchase peace talismans(平安符) and offerings. Peace talismans are intended to bless health, safety, and prosperity, like those found in Japanese shrines. Typically, it is recommended to keep a peace talisman in your wallet for about a year and then return it to the stall for disposal.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Address：2 Chuk Yuen Village, Wong Tai Sin

Transport：Wong Tai Sin MTR Station Exit B2

Che Kung Temple(車公廟) brings fortune with windmill turning

Legend has it that during the late Ming Dynasty, there was an epidemic in Sha Tin. Villagers invited Che Kung from Sai Kung Ho Chung to Sha Tin for worship, and this tradition continues to this day. Nowadays, worshippers visit Sha Tin Che Kung Temple mainly attracted by the efficacy of its divination texts. Many worshippers also buy windmills during their visit. Especially on the second day of the lunar new year, the birthday of Che Kung, a large number of devotees come to pray, turn windmills, hoping to change their luck, which become an important part of Hong Kong's folk customs.

Upon arrival at Che Kung Temple, visitors can purchase incense on the left side of the main entrance. The price varies according to the type of incense, usually accompanied by a Che Kung protective talisman. Visitors can tell the staff if they do not want the protective talisman, which can reduce the cost by about 20 Hong Kong dollars. After buying incense, visitors can proceed forward and hand over the incense to the staff on the left, who will prepare and light it for them before returning it. Three incense sticks are to be placed in each incense burner, as the main hall only allows three sticks per devotee. Any extra incense can be placed in the large incense burner located outside the main hall.

With three incense sticks in hand, visitors can pay respects to Che Kung inside the main hall and then borrow a divination box on the left side. Remember to prepare some cash as a deposit. The process is quite similar to that of Wong Tai Sin Temple. After seeking divination from Che Kung, returning the box, visitors can have their divination interpreted at the official divination stall in the temple. However, visitors can also have their divination interpreted at the external divination stalls near the main entrance. These stalls usually provide services such as reading horoscopes and choosing auspicious dates(擇日). It is advisable to inquire about the fees beforehand, especially regarding matters outside the initial scope, to avoid any additional charges. After visiting Che Kung Temple, many devotees purchase windmills in hopes of turning their luck around.

Che Kung Temple

Address：7 Che Kung Mui Road, Sha Tin

Transport：Get of at Tai Wai Station, walk through the adjacent shopping mall, cross the pedestrian bridge and you will see the Che Kung Temple.

Hung Hom Kwun Yum Temple : Treasury Opening Festival (觀音開庫)

Hung Hom Kwun Yum Temple is most famous for the borrowing from the treasury of Kwun Yum(觀音借庫) on the 26th day of the lunar January. On that day, a large number of believers crowd both inside and outside the temple, hoping to borrow wealth and have a prosperous year. However, during regular temple visits, one can also pray for blessings and seek divination.

The borrowing from the treasury of Kwun Yum is a common Chinese folk belief. It is said that during her practice, five hundred arhats transformed into monk to beg for food from Kwun Yum, testing her spiritual cultivation. Kwun Yum thus opened the treasury on the 26th day of the lunar January, offering vegetarian food to the arhats, while the rest of the food was left for visiting devotees. The legend of the treasury opening is difficult to verify, but every year on the 26th day of the lunar January, many believers still come to Kwun Yum Temple for the treasury borrowing, hoping to obtain various blessings from Kwun Yum. It is important to note that if one wishes to borrow from the treasury of Kwun Yum, they should do so continuously for at least 3 years and remember to be persistent. The auspicious day for returning the borrowed items is before the Winter Solstice (December 22 冬至), or it can also be done before the beginning of spring(立春).

The layout of the Kwun Yum Temple is not large, with the ceiling filled with rows of tower incense, and the faint smoke revealing the face of the Kwun Yum statue. Upon entering the temple, there is a counter on the right selling incense. Visitors can inform the staff of their needs, and they will recommend suitable incense and provide guidance on how to light them. There are a total of nine incense burners inside the Kwun Yuam Temple. Each burner requires three bows and three incense sticks. Although it is a customary greeting, due to the small size of this Kwun Yum Temple, one must be careful with the incense smoke. Visitors can also seek divination at the temple, although it is slightly less renowned compared to Wong Tai Sin Temple and Che Kung Temple. Most visitors come primarily to pray for blessings(祈福).

Hung Hom Kwun Yum Temple

Address：15 Station Lane, Hung Hom

The Yuen Yuen Institute is built on the hill, with the Tai Sui(太歲)  being worshipped inside the Yuan Chen Hall(元辰殿)

In Chinese tradition, Tai Sui, also known as the Grand Duke Jupiter, is linked with stars opposite Jupiter in its 12-year cycle and is personified as deities in belief systems like astrology, Feng Shui, Taoism, and to some extent, Chinese Buddhism. 

According to Chinese beliefs, Tai Sui can affect certain zodiac signs in a given year. If your zodiac sign clashes with Tai Sui(犯太歲) , it's believed that you may face challenges during that year. To appease or avoid the negative effects of Tai Sui, people may visit a temple and pray for protection on the eighth day of the first lunar month. Additionally, getting a lucky charm like a pixiu can be considered to attract good fortune, particularly related to money.

Yuen Yuen Institute located near Sam Dip Tam in Tsuen Wan, renowned for the Yuanchen Temple where many believers who Fan Tai Sui in the current year come to pray for protection.  Individuals can find their own "Blessed Element"(本命元辰)based on their Chinese zodiac birth year. According to Yuen Yuen Institute, worshipping one's Blessed Element can bring good fortune, and anyone visiting the Yuanchen Temple receives the blessings of the sixty Tai Sui, accumulating blessings and auspiciousness.

Yuen Yuen Institute follows Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist ideologies(儒、釋、道), with the entire complex resembling a courtyard. Many buildings are octagonal in shape, with a distinctive red and green color scheme. Yuen Yuen Institution also features gardens and ponds, adding vitality and offering a space to alleviate worries. Even as an alternative attraction in Hong Kong, coming here for a weekend stroll can provide a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle.

Yuen Yuen Institute

Address：

Transport：At Tsuen Wan take Green Minibus 81 on Shiu Wo Street to Yuen Yuen Institution