Tin How Temple
The Tin How Temple (also spelled Tianhou Temple) is the oldest extant Taoist temple in San Francisco's Chinatown, and one of the oldest still-operating Chinese temples in the United States.[1] It is dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, who is known as Tin How (天后, Empress of Heavens) in Cantonese.[2]
The temple was founded in 1852, reportedly at its current location at 125 Waverly Place, but the building was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, with the image of the goddess, the temple bell, and part of the altar surviving.[1] By then, ownership of the temple had transitioned to the Sue Hing Benevolent Association, which reopened it in 1910 on the top floor of a four-story building it built on the site.[1] The temple closed in 1955 and reopened in 1975, after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 had caused a rejuvenation of San Francisco's Chinatown.[1]
In May 2010, the one-hundredth anniversary of the temple was celebrated by a religious procession through the streets in the neighborhood, including dances and fireworks.
Although both are dedicated to Mazu, the Tin How Temple is not to be confused with the "Ma-Tsu Temple of U.S.A." two blocks north of it, which was founded in 1986 with ties to the Chaotian Temple in Taiwan.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Lorentzen, Lois Ann; Gonzalez, Joaquin Jay; Chun, Kevin M.; Do, Hien Duc (2010-07-01). Religion at the Corner of Bliss and Nirvana: Politics, Identity, and Faith in New Migrant Communities. Duke University Press. p. 169. ISBN 0822391163.
- ↑ Tin How Temple at chinatownology.com
External links
- Tin How Temple at chinatownology.com
Coordinates: 37°47′40″N 122°24′26″W / 37.79457°N 122.40710°W