The Tsing Shan Monastery aka. Castle Peak Monastery is situated at the foot of Castle Peak, near

Tuen Mun Tuen Mun or Castle Peak is an area near the mouth of Tuen Mun River and Castle Peak Bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It was one of the earliest settlements in what is now Hong Kong and can be dated to the Neolithic period. In the more re ...

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

. Parts of the Monastery are listed as Grade I historic buildings, others are listed as Grade II historic buildings.

Antiquities Advisory Board The Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) is a statutory body of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the responsibility of advising the Antiquities Authority on any matters relating to antiquities and monuments. The AAB was establish ...

List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings with Assessment Results

Overview

Inside there are the Pui To Pagoda, Tsing Wan Koon () and the Tsing Shan Temple. These historical monuments have stood through the ages in the tranquil wooded area. The striking and picturesque surroundings create an enjoyable view as well as a solemn ambiance. Upon entering the Monastery, the words "" (Fragrant Sea and Prestigious Mountain) will be perceived engraved on the portico. It is a caption by the former

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Sir Cecil Clementi Sir Cecil Clementi (; 1 September 1875 – 5 April 1947) was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Hong Kong from 1925 to 1930, and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements from 1930 to 1934. Early lif ...

. On the reverse side are the words "" (Repentance is Salvation), an inscription by Reverend Tit Xim. Originating from Shiwan, the crest tile of the archway is a delicate art treasure.

Origin

According to legend, an Indian monk who liked travelling in a wooden cup was believed to have lodged where the Monastery now stands. Attracted by the natural wonders and the serene milieu, he built a chalet there for practicing

meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally cal ...

. Since then, the name of Reverend

Pui To Pui To ( Chinese: 杯渡) was a Buddhist monk living at the time of the Liu Song Dynasty in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The legend has it that he once went to Tuen Mun in the New Territories of Hong Kong to construct roads, and he lived a ...

() has become widespread. In memory of him, his followers built a

pagoda A pagoda is an Asian tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist but sometimes Taoist, ...

at the place where he formerly resided. At the back of the pagoda was a statue of Reverend Pui To. The time of construction, however, cannot be ascertained. Some say the Pui To Pagoda was built in the Jin Dynasty and redeveloped in the

Song Dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

. Regular maintenance works has kept the historical relic's original appearance intact. Adjoining to the Main Worship Hall is Ching Wan Koon, which is dedicated to Dou Lao, a goddess who is believed to be able to relieve people from their worries. The Tsing Shan Temple is the eldest amongst the temples in Hong Kong. There is a main worship hall inside the temple and the writing "" (Everything on Earth Has Ties and Reaches Nirvana Together) could be seen in front of the stairs leading to the hall. The peaceful environment of this

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

Temple offers an abiding sense of harmony.