Hong Kong’s oldest existing temple, Man Mo Temple, stands at the intersection of Hollywood Road and Ladder Street. Built during the 1840s, the temple is one of Hong Kong’s best-known landmarks. Ladder Street features many unique shops and restaurants, along with some of Hong Kong’s oldest houses. The street runs up a steep hill and bears a series of steps to assist pedestrian traffic. During the 19th century, Hong Kong residents commonly hired individuals to carry them up Ladder Street in portable, enclosed seats called sedan chairs. These chairs once filled the streets of Hong Kong.

Man Mo Temple is dedicated to concepts,
Man and Mo, associated with two Taoist deities. Man refers to civility and literature and is associated with Cheung Ah Tse, a god deemed the patron of civil servants. In ancient Chinese society, civil servants made up an important group that led the government and greatly influenced Chinese culture. Many of these civil servants also followed a form of thought known as Confucianism that influenced the Chinese attitude toward life and provided the background for Chinese political theories and institutions. Mo refers to the martial arts and war and is associated with Kuan Ti or Kuan Kung. Ironically, he is honored by both criminals and police. The sacred brass deer inside the temple symbolize longevity.

Common acts of worship in a temple such as Man Mo include lighting candles and burning coils of incense that hang from the ceiling. Worshippers often bring oranges to shrines as offerings.

The area around Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road is famous for its antique shops. These range from small vendors selling bric-a-brac to more elaborate stores selling expensive rugs, porcelain, and lacquerware. The shop shown here specializes in ornate teak medicine chests. The continued success of shops such as this represents Hong Kong’s strong history of trade—ranging from international shipping in Victoria Harbor to simple exchange in small Hollywood Road boutiques.