Helen Deng
HIDDEN behind “hand-shake” buildings (so called because they are so close that people in two buildings can shake hands) in Shangmeilin of Futian District, Longmu Temple is a rare throwback to Shenzhen’s fishing-village past.
The temple was built for the worship of Longmu, or Dragon Mother, the legendary protector of fishermen in the Pearl River area.
Legend has it that Longmu, who was the leader of a major tribe in what is now Guangdong and Guangxi, gave birth to five dragons — or governors of the sea — after swallowing a big egg.
Longmu, whose original name was Wen Fengjiao, was greatly respected by fishermen for controlling floods with the help of her powerful dragon sons.
While there are many temples dedicated to her in South China, Longmu Temple is the only one in Shenzhen.
On the first and the 15th days of every lunar month, many people — few of whom are fishermen — visit the temple, burn incense, and pray for luck for themselves, their friends and relatives.
The 119-square-meter temple was first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and renovated during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
While its exterior is decorated in the Qing style, its interior retains Ming Dynasty features.
Apart from Longmu, the temple also has statues of her eldest child and her sister-in-law.
The statue of Longmu — wearing a kind smile and a red robe — is in the middle. The sister-in-law is said to have helped protect Longmu, who became pregnant before marriage, from the taunts of fellow villagers.
The statues are relatively new, placed in the temple in 1993, said Chen Zhiguo, the doorkeeper.
The original statues in the temple were destroyed during the “Cultural Revolution” of the 1960s and 1970s, although the villagers managed to keep the temple as a storehouse, said Chen.
The temple is also the home of Chen, one of the millions of migrant workers in Shenzhen. He has a bed in a corner and a stove in the other.
“I was brought here by Buddhist destiny,” said Chen, who gives each visitor a copy of a pamphlet praising Longmu.
