Pak Tai Temple, Cheung Chau 長洲玉虛宮(北帝廟)

This temple was built in 1783 and is now listed as Grade 1 historical building by the Antiquities Advisory Committee. The early settlers of Cheung Chau were fishermen of Huizhou, Chaozhou and Guangzhou of the Guangdong Province. They believed that their safety could be assured by the blessings of supernatural power. Pak Tai, a sea divinity, became their patron deity. It was said that in the 42nd year of Qianlong (1777), a plague broke out on the island. The Huizhou people carried the image of their deity Pak Tai from their native county to the island to suppress the plague. Since then, all the islanders had been living inprosperity. In the 48th year of Qianlong (1783), the Huizhou people , led by Mr Lam Yuk-mo, built this temple in honour of Pak Tai.長洲玉虛宮(北帝廟)是著名的古廟,建於乾隆四十八年(1783年),有二百多年歷史,獲古物諮詢委員會評定為一級歷史建築物。長洲最早為原籍惠州、潮州及廣州的漁民聚居地。他們信奉神明庇蔭,使舟楫平安。北帝是海神,即漁民的守護神。據稱,在乾隆四十二年(1777年),疫症肆虐長洲,當地漁民即赴惠陽縣迎北帝神像到長洲鎮壓;自此島民安居樂業。因此,林煜武於乾隆四十八年(1873年)領導長洲惠籍居民集資建廟奉祀北帝。
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