The Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda in Hong Kong

Aug 28
21:22

2011

Susan Wong

Susan Wong

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The Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda (Pagoda of Gathering Stars) is a Hong Kong’s only surviving ancient pagoda.

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According to the genealogy of the Tang clan of Ping Shan,The Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda in Hong Kong Articles Tsui Sing Lau pagoda was built more than 600 years ago by Tang Yin-tung, the 7th generation ancestor. This green brick structure pagoda is hexagonal-shaped with thirteen meters high and has a three storeys (formerly 7).

On top of its floor, there is a statue of Fui Shing (Champion Star – a deity who controls the success or failure in examinations) that is worshipped by many people. Auspicious titles are inscribed on each floor: on the ground floor – “Light Shines Straight Onto the Dippers and the Enclosures”, on the middle floor – “Pagoda of Gathering Stars” and on the top floor – “Over the Milky Way”.

Situated to the north of Sheung Cheung Wai, the pagoda was built in order to improve feng shui of the locality: to prevent flooding disasters to the village and avoid evil spirits from the North as well as to help the Tangs win a title in the imperial examination. It was declared a monument on 14 December 2001.

According to the story, Tang Yin-tung was dreaming a group of stars all gathered together and suddenly dropped down onto the place where the current pagoda stands. He consulted a feng shui master immediately and he was advised by the feng shui master to build a Buddhist pagoda on that spot so that he could gather the ‘scholarship’ for the clan. Not long after the pagoda was built, the Tang clan produced numerous scholars and officials in the Qing and Ming dynasties.