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 The former
name of A-Ma Temple (Ma Kok Miu) was Ma Tsou, the oldest temple
in Macao, which has a history of over 500 years. It is so alleged
that over 400 years ago when Portuguese reached Macao and landed
on the sea promontory opposite the A-Ma Temple, they noticed the
temple of goddess and asked the local inhabitants the name of
the whole place who misunderstood they were denoting the temple
and answered "Ma Kok". In this way, the Portuguese transliterated
into "Macau" which was the origin of the Portuguese
name for Macao. The whole Temple includes the main hall, stone
hall, great mercy hall and Kun lam (Goddess of Mercy, Avalokitesvara)
hall four buildings.
At the gate, there are stone lions guarding
the temple and the eaves pointing the sky, full of Chinese folk
characteristics.
The A-Ma Temple was built by the cliff. There
are winding paths around upwards the hill. Along the cliff, there
are many poems and verses inscribed on stone in all scripts, regular,
cursive, seal character and official. Inside the courtyard, there
is a relief stone sculpture of Chinese junk. Here goes the allegation
that A-Ma sailed out to sea from her native land by this junk.
After coping with strong typhoon and fierce-waves, she reached
Macao safely. It is said, the Tin Hau, the Queen of Heaven and
Protector of Seafarer who was from Pu Tien, Fujian Province, is
otherwise known for Niang Ma. She could predict auspicious and
inauspicious things and after death made her presence felt on
the sea, helping merchants and fishermen to dispel calamity, overcome
difficulty and turn danger  into safety. Later generations built
temple here to pay homage in her memory. On 23 March every lunar
year, the birthday of A-Ma, and in the spring festival, the Temple
is crowded with worshippers. Many male and female disciples gather
here to pay homage and to pray for good fortune. Even young men
and young women in western-style clothes and in long boots and
short skirts come to burn incense to pray for good luck, a quite
warm scene.
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