Entrance to A-Ma Temple, Macau
by Netsonfong, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Templo_de_A-Ma.jpg, under GNU Free Documentation License
The A-Ma Temple, on the southwest tip of the Macau Peninsula, is the oldest of the three major Chinese temples in Macau. It was first built in 1488, older than the colony itself, and in fact, the name Macau was derived from A-Ma Kok, meaning the Bay of A-Ma Temple.
The A-Ma Temple faces the sea, at the bottom of Rua do Admirante Sergio and by Barra Hill. It is dedicated to the goddess Matsu, also known in Hong Kong as Tin Hau, a patroness of seafarers and fishermen. The origin of this temple is trace to a legend. Once, a junk sailing on the South China Sea on a clear day was suddenly caught in a tempest. Everybody thought they would not survive the storm when a young, attractive woman came forward and ordered the sea to calm down. Miraculously the storm died away and the sea became come. The junk arrived at the port of Hoi Keong. The woman stepped ashore and walked up to to top of a hill, which is today Barra Hill. There was a glowing halo of light around her, and she ascended into heaven.
The A-Ma Temple was built on the spot where she set foot on land to pay tribute to her. When Portuguese sailors arrived in the 16th century and asked for the name of the place, they were told "A Ma Gao", meaning Bay of A-Ma. This resulted in the peninsula being called Amagao, or by its modern name, Macau.
The busiest time of the year for A-Ma Temple is around Chinese New Year, and again in late April - early May, on the 23rd day of the third moon, when Cantonese operas are also performed for the pleasure of the deity.
A-Ma Temple is one of the places within the Historic Centre of Macau, and is inscribed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.
A-Ma Temple
