Hong Kong Temple Inscriptions (Three Volumes): History and Illustrations / Compiled and edited by CHI LAM

This comprehensive record of Hong Kong's temple inscriptions meticulously gathers existing Chinese temples and verifiable inscriptions across Hong Kong (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, and Outlying Islands). Dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1274) and extending to the present day (2021), it not only showcases the richness of Hong Kong's temple inscription literature over centuries but also reflects the development of local deities and religious beliefs. Organized by temple, the book uses "temples to introduce inscriptions," featuring 130 temples and 455 inscriptions. In addition to original inscriptions, it includes a wealth of precious images captured on-site—temple exteriors, inscription photographs, deity statues, and cultural relics—lending it significant historical value and demonstrating the vitality of temple culture that endures in contemporary life. Temples serve as vessels of history for various ethnic groups and are deeply intertwined with current societal life. By integrating data from inscriptions, images, and textual records, this book comprehensively presents the landscape and developmental trajectory of Hong Kong's Chinese temples and religions. It also acts as a parallel narrative of Hong Kong society, revealing the transformations of regions, ethnic groups, and communities in this land. ISBN: 978-988-237-267-2 Binding: Hardcover Language: Traditional Chinese Pages: Vol. I: 768, Vol. II: 780, Vol. III: 728 Dimensions: 320 x 250 x 155 mm **About the Author** **Professor CHI LAM** graduated with First Class Honours in the Department of Religion and holds a Bachelor of Divinity from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 1989, he pursued postgraduate studies at the Divinity School of The University of Chicago, specializing in Taoist Studies and Western Religions, earning both Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, Associate Executive Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, Director of the Centre for Taoist Studies, and Director of the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Asia-Pacific Center for Chinese Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the *Journal of Taoist Studies* and Editor-in-Chief of the *Journal of Chinese Studies*. In 2014, he was awarded the "Distinguished Scholar Award in Humanities and Social Sciences" by the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong. In 2020, he received the Second Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Scientific Research (Humanities and Social Sciences) from the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. In 2023, he was granted funding from the Research Grants Council's Collaborative Research Fund project. His primary research areas encompass theories of Western religious studies, the history of Taoism in the Six Dynasties period, Tianshi Dao scriptures, the history of Taoist ritual, the *Daozang Jiyao* of the Qing Dynasty, the local history of Taoism in Guangdong, Taoist rituals in Hong Kong, and Lüzu spirit-mediumship halls. In recent years, he has focused on establishing a "Digital Museum of Taoism." His monographs include *A Study of the Daozang Jiyao* (Three Volumes) (2021), *Taoism in Lingnan: A Gazetteer of Sanyuan Gong in Guangzhou* (2019), *Understanding Taoism* (2017), *Cultivating the Mind and Refining the Nature: A Vernacular Annotation of the Scripture of the Supreme and Efficacious True Classic of Wushang Xuangong by Patriarch Lü* (Parts A & B) (2017), *Research on Local Taoism in Guangdong: Temples, Taoist Priests, and Rituals* (2007), and *Religious Studies and Hermeneutics: Reflections on the Establishment of Religious Studies* (2003). His co-authored works include *Collected Commentaries on Temple Inscriptions of Taoist Temples in Guangzhou Prefecture* (Volumes I & II) (2013), *Taoism in Hong Kong: Historical Origins and Modern Transformation* (2010), and *The History and Transmission of Taoist Rituals in Hong Kong* (2007). His edited works include *Taoist Iconography, Archaeology, and Ritual: The Evolution and Characteristics of Taoism in the Song Dynasty* (2016), *Changes in Chinese Local Taoism Since the Nineteenth Century* (2013), *Religious Studies in the Chinese Academic Context: Exploration of Indigenous Methodologies* (2012), *Peace and Conflict of Religions* (2008), *Research on Taoism in Hong Kong and South China* (2005), *Research on Taoism and Chinese Religious Culture* (2003), and *Collected Essays on Research into Taoism and Folk Religion* (1999), among others. --------------- This monumental three-volume work makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Hong Kong's local religious traditions. Through in-depth fieldwork, complemented by over a thousand vivid photographs, Professor Chi Lam meticulously documents 455 temple inscriptions and showcases local sacrificial traditions from multiple perspectives. For readers interested in the social history of Southern China, this book is an indispensable read. **— James L. Watson, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Harvard University** Building upon previous scholarship, this work offers on-site investigations and corrections, establishing itself as the most comprehensive record of Hong Kong's local temple inscriptions to date. It preserves valuable historical materials for each temple, ensuring that such records will not be lost even if temples are rebuilt in the future. **— LI Feng-Mao, Academician of the Academia Sinica, Emeritus Professor of the Graduate Institute of Religious Studies, National Chengchi University** The most effective contribution scholars can make to the preservation of cultural heritage is through documentation and research. This book provides a crucial and solid foundation for this endeavor and will undoubtedly elevate the academic attention given to Hong Kong's epigraphic literature. **— David Faure, Emeritus Professor of History, The Chinese University of Hong Kong** This book can be considered a refined compendium of information on Hong Kong's temples. Each temple has its own story, not only witnessing the development of Hong Kong communities but also actively participating in the process of urban change. The book situates the history of local temples within the broader context of Hong Kong's development, serving as both a map and a chronicle. What Professor Chi Lam and his team seek to preserve is precisely this way of understanding Hong Kong. **— CHEN Jinfang, Executive Vice-President and Shenom Professor of Chinese Culture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong** This book organically combines the study of inscriptions and temples, not only broadening the research perspective on Hong Kong's local temples but also holding epistemological and methodological significance. It serves as an important model for future research on Hong Kong's historical sites and religious studies. **— ZHENG Zhenman, Professor of History and Director of the Center for Research on Folk Historical Documents, Xiamen University**