Support Tam Kung Temple in the Next Great Save Competition!
Vote daily from March 31 to April 17 for a chance to help Tam Kung Temple win $50,000 to build a new Welcome Reception & Interpretation Centre. Your votes are crucial!
How to Help:
- Vote Daily: Visit nextgreatsave.nationaltrustcanada.ca/2025 from March 31 to April 17.
- Spread the Word: Encourage family and friends to vote and support our temple
Together, we can make a difference!
Additional links:
- Vote here
- How to Vote Instructions
- Read our Story on the Next Great Save
Tam Kung Temple’s race to preserve Hakka heritage in The Next Great Save
Tam Kung Temple is preparing to welcome the world, says long-time volunteer and community organizer Gayle Nye of Victoria’s historic Hakka place of worship. A 2025 finalist in the National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save competition, Yen Wo Society
hopes to win the grand prize of $50, 000—money that would help preserve the temple and its immigrant stories for future generations.
Gayle Nye
Courtesy of College of Occupational Therapists of BC now College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
Tam Kung Temple designated a National Historic Site by the Government of Canada - February 2025
https://www.parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/lieu-site/temple-tam-kung
“Standing tall since 1876 in Victoria's Historic Chinatown, the Tam Kung Temple is a cherished landmark for Chinese-Canadian history via Trans-Pacific migration. Greatly honoured with a national historic designation by the Government of Canada, our cultural ties and customs are anchored here by the strength and resilience of forebearers. All are welcome within to this place of peace and respite, contemplation and community."
Gayle Nye
Proponent of the nomination, on behalf of Ngai Shee descendants and families
Temple Donation
Carol Charlebois, President, and Lisa Bengston of the Victoria Canada -China Friendship Association (VCCFA) recently visited the Tam Kung Temple to present a $10,000 cheque in support of the Yen Wo Society’s ongoing renovation projects.
VCCFA fosters friendship and understanding between the peoples of Canada and China. Further to a legacy from the estate of a past member, Paula Achemitchuk, the VCCFA did its research to identify projects of historical significance and growth within Victoria’s Chinatown. They chose the Tam Kung Temple and combined Association and Legacy funds to comprise their donation.
Nora Butz, Yen Wo Society President, expressed deep appreciation on behalf of the Tam Kung Temple and community.
Victoria Royals Lunar New Year Event: February 2024
Victoria Royals Lunar New Year Event: February 2024
Friends of the Yen Wo Society, Fancy and David Foundation, invited Society members to attend the Victoria Royals Lunar New Year Event, held on February 16 & 17, 2024. During game time, the Society ran an information / fundraising booth, as part of its community outreach program to promote cultural awareness.
Staff and players of the Victoria Royals visited Tam Kung Temple, and found themselves in the space where the Chinese pioneers found cultural unity during Canada’s early period of nation building. The young hockey players said that the temple had a “cool history”; it was so “hidden away”; and there were “a lot of takeaways.” They had an “awesome experience” and were “really glad to come here.”
We graciously thank Fancy and David, and the Victoria Royals for their generosity and support which has enabled us to continue with our efforts to restore and conserve the Yen Wo Society Building, home of Tam Kung Temple, Canada’s oldest Chinese temple (1876),
About Us
History
Tam Kung Temple (est.1876) is the oldest Chinese temple in Canada, located in Victoria Chinatown. It is under the guardianship of the Yen Wo Society, a non-profit organization established by the Chinese Hakka community in 1905.
Hakka is a Chinese clan-dialect and Hakkaliterally means the ‘guest people’. The Hakka people originated from the northern and central parts of China, and migrated southward to the Province of Guangdong in the thirteenth century. They were one of the early Chinese clan groups that arrived in North America during the 19th century. Today, the Hakka people in southern China have continued to maintain their Hakka language and culture.
According to geographer David Chuenyan Lai, there are various potential origin myths for the deity Tam Kung. One claimed he was an abandoned youngster with supernatural abilities to stop diseases from spreading, calm sea storms, and bring rain. According to a different version, Tam Kung was a courageous Hakka elder who, in 1278, assisted the seven-year-old Emperor Bing of the Song Dynasty to escape from the Mongol army. According to a third tale, Tam Kung was a made-up name for the young Emperor Bing, who was later deified.
The foundation of Tam Kung Temple in Canada dates back to the 1860s, when a Hakka gold seeker from Guangdong Province brought the statuette of Tam Kung with him to safeguard his journey across the Pacific Ocean. Before the Hakka native left for the Fraser River to seek gold, he placed the statuette in a wooden niche-like box near the Johnson Street ravine for his countrymen to pay homage.
A Hakka native from Guangdong Province, Ngai Sze, dreamt that Tam Kung came to him and told him to build a temple to provide a safe space for spiritual guidance, cultural unity, and honouring ancestors. Ngai Sze, along with several members of the Hakka Chinese community, actively fundraised to collect monies to purchase a temple site.
In 1876, Tsay Ching and Dong Sang, on behalf of the Hakka community, purchased the property located near the corner of Fisgard and Government Street. Tam Kung Temple was established in a single-story framed structure located on this site.
In 1912, the Society demolished the one-story building and erected a four-level building on the same site. Tam Kung Temple was moved to the top floor of this narrow, brick building. For more than a century, the Yen Wo Society has continued its role as the custodian of Tam Kung Temple, responsible for its preservation and maintenance.
Tam Kung Temple is open to the public and welcomes both local and international visitors. Believers visit the temple to consult Tam Kung for guidance on how to handle difficult life issues or how to recover from an illness. A believer will kneel and shake a bamboo tube with 103 bamboo sticks after making a offering of incense. Each stick has a number that correlates to a verse from an oracle that offers guidance from Tam Kung.
Board Members
Nora Butz, President 250 889 8329
Yee Wan Ngai Vice President
Linda Chu Treasurer / Secretary
Lori Wong Director
Shirley Ngai Director
Wilson Louie Director
Ann Wong Director
Related Sites
The Tam Kung Temple was designated as a national historic site in 2025.
Government of Canada recognizes Tam Kung Temple having national historic significance.
CHEK News: Nearly 150-year-old Chinese temple in Victoria designated National Historic Site
CBC Vancouver : Saving Canada's oldest Chinese temple
Oldest Chinese Temple Victoria with FTV logo (Cantonese)
Oldest Chinese Temple Victoria with TTV logo (Mandarin)
University of Victoria China Town Library
Donations
Charity Donations
We Accept donations. Saanich Legacy Foundation issues tax receipts for either Tam Kung Temple or Yen Wo Society.
Go to https://www.saanichlegacy.ca/project/tam-kung-temple-yen-wo-society, select under Project to donate to “Tam Kung Temple”.
Method 1: Cheques may be made out to Yen Wo Society
Method 2: e-Transfer donate@tamkungtemple.ca
Method 3: Please scan the QR code on the right to donate.
Contact at: Nora Butz: (250) 889 8329
Jackie Ngai: (250) 889 7655
2023 Tamkung Temple Picnic
2023 Tamkung Temple Picnic
2023 Tamkung Temple Picnic taking place Sunday August 20. Over 250 participants enjoyed our annual event with our special roasted pork and fried chicken. There were games for young and old, an information booth about the temple, 50/50 raffle in which over $650 was raised. Great community event. A big thank you to all the volunteers.
Contact Us
Welcome visitors!
Ascend the Tam Kung Temple stairway, immerse yourself in Chinese Culture, History and Hospitality.
**Seated Stairwell ascender is available for Mobile Accessibility
Yen Wo Society - Tam Kung Temple
Cheques may be made out to Yen Wo Society
Email yenwosociety@gmail.com
Opening hours
Open today | 10:00 a.m. – 04:00 a.m. |
