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
The Tam Kung Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Canada, is under the guardianship of the Yen Wo Society, a linguistic organization that was established by Hakka speakers in Victoria in 1905. The last migration of the Hakka, a Chinese ethnic group that had its origins in the north of China, took place in the thirteenth century. The Hakka people in South China still have their own 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 eight-year-old Emperor Bing of the Song Dynasty in escaping from Mongolian armies. According to a third tale, Tam Kung was a made-up name for the young Emperor Bing, who was later made into a god.
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 Cariboo region to seek gold, he placed the statuette in a wooden niche-like box and left it by the mouth of 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, members of the Hakka community rented the one-story structure, located on the corner of Fisgard and Government streets, and dedicated the building to the deity Tam Kung. One year later, Tsay Ching and Dong Sang purchased the property at 1713 Government on behalf of the Hakka community. The statuette of Tam Kung was permanently housed in this one-story building for more than three decades.
The Yen Wo Society, an association of Hakka-speaking people, was founded in 1905 in Victoria, British Columbia. In 1911, the Society demolished the one-story temple and erected a four-story 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 sacrifice of incense. Each stick has a number, and when one is pulled out, the number on that stick correlates to a verse from an oracle that offers guidance from Tam Kung.
Board Members
Nora Butz, President 250 889 8329
Yee Won Ngai Vice President
Linda Chu Treasurer
Lori Wong Secretary
Jackie Ngai Director 250 8897655
Wilson Louie Director
Ann Wong Director
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 p.m. |
