1921: Opening chapter of the Sik Sik Yuen Puyi Altar
After seven years, Master Wong Tai Sin instructed him to build a new temple under Lion's Rock in Kowloon. When he arrived, there was nothing there but a barren bamboo garden. The Master said: “This is the land of the phoenix and an auspicious place to create a new altar.” In July of the same year, the construction of the Main Altar was completed, and the disciples gathered to invite the Immortal Master to take residence in the temple.
1924: Establishment of the Herbal Clinic
The Herbal Clinic was established in 1924 at Sai Kung Road, Kowloon and provided free medical services.
1947: Closure of the Yuen
Sik Sik Yuen was closed due to conflicts with the Chinese Temples Ordinance at that time. Many people set up temporary altars facing the Main Altar outside the Temple to continue their worship. When it was closed, the Temple was only permitted to open in the first month of the year of the Chinese calendar. This created the tradition of the “first incense of the New Year”.
1954: Fire at Chuk Yuen
The fire at the wooden housing area (called “Chuk Yuen United West Street” at that time) opposite Sik Sik Yuen reached the gates of Sik Sik Yuen and even charred the handwritten words “Sik Sik Yuen Supreme Paradise” black. However, the Temple was not affected by the fire due to a sudden change of wind direction.
1956: Official opening of Sik Sik Yuen
After being elected as the “chairman”, Taoist Wong Wan-tin immediately contacted social officials and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. After several months, the official opening was approved by the government two days before Master Wong Tai Sin's Birthday. At the same time, it was stipulated that worshippers who entered the Yuen must donate 10 cents to supplement the funds of Tung Hwa’s volunteer schools.
1965: Incorporation as a charity association
On June 15, Sik Sik Yuen was officially approved to become a legal charity organization, and it has been actively promoting its charity business ever since. In addition, it actively carried out internal reforms and revised the board election procedures.
1969: Founding its first sponsored school—Ho Lap College
Ho Lap College was the first school that Sik Sik Yuen founded and sponsored. As of today, the Yuen sponsors 16 schools and educational units.
1969: Founding its first sponsored school—Ho Lap College
Ho Lap College was the first school that Sik Sik Yuen founded and sponsored. As of
today, the Yuen sponsors 16 schools and educational units.
1969: Completion of the “Tiandi Zhongling” Arch and the naming of Wong Tai Sin district
The “Tiandi Zhongling” Arch on Lung Cheung Road was officially completed and
unveiled, and Sir. Tang Shiu-kin was invited to preside over the ribbon-cutting
ceremony. In the same year, the government officially named the area where Wong
Tai Sin Temple and its neighboring areas were located as “Wong Tai Sin district”,
highlighting the importance of Wong Tai Sin Temple in the district.
1973: Reconstruction of the Main Altar of “Cisong Wong Tai Sin Temple”
In the 1970s, Sik Sik Yuen began a large-scale renovation project. The reconstruction of the Main Altar lasted three years, and the Main Altar was officially opened in 1973. The Hong Kong Governor, Sir. McLehose was invited to preside over the opening ceremony.
1979: The founding of Ho King Home for the Aged
Ho King Home for the Aged was Sik Sik Yuen's first sponsored elderly care institution, and the Yuen has now established 17 elderly service centres. However, due to the aging of the facilities and buildings of Ho King Home for the Aged, the land was officially returned to the government in 2005.
1981: Opening of a new clinic
The Yuen opened a new clinic, with a Chinese medicine clinic upstairs and Western medical services downstairs. In the same year, the Sik Sik Yuen Medical Fund was established to offer free medical consultations and Chinese medicine.
1985: Commencement of a disciple system
The recruitment of members and disciples was officially changed to a “member recommendation system”. Sik Sik Yuen’s first abbot, Dr. Lee Yiu-fai (Yee Kok), was one of the first disciples to become a member of the Temple after the change.
1991: At the age of 70, I could follow the dictates of my own heart without crossing the line
In the 1980s, Sik Sik Yuen was allocated land by the government to build a garden corridor in imitation of the Summer Palace of Beijing. This was completed during the year of Sik Sik Yuen’s 70th anniversary (1991) and was named Good Wish Garden after a quote of Confucius: “At the age of 70, I could follow the dictates of my own heart without crossing the line”.
1995: Establishment of the Ho Koon Nature Education Cum Astronomical Centre
In the 1980s, the government handed over the control of Tai Mo Shan Countryside Learning Center to Sik Sik Yuen. In 1995, Sik Sik Yuen officially established the Ho Koon Nature Education Cum Astronomical Centre to enable Hong Kong students to experience the fun of astronomy and develop their interest in astronomy.
1997: Authorized Taoist wedding venue
Before the handover of Hong Kong, Sik Sik Yuen performed a bird release ritual and invited Mr. Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, and his wife to preside over a ritual to pray for the future of Hong Kong. In the same year, Wong Tai Sin Temple became a religious site authorized by the government to hold Taoist weddings.
2000: Official opening of the social services complex
In addition to providing elderly services, the new social services complex also provided modern medical services such as Western medicine, dental services, and physiotherapy services to provide those in need with discounted prices and high-quality medical services.
After the General Clinic moved out of the complex, the Sik Sik Yuen Clinic was renamed to Po Chai Hall in 2000 to imply the meaning of “acting benevolently and teaching benevolence”.
2005: Revolution in the inheritance of Taoist scriptures and repentance rituals culture
Sik Sik Yuen changed its scripture and repentance ritual inheritance system from a mentorship system to open classes and opened the first series of scripture and repentance ritual cultural classes, inviting senior Taoists from inside and outside the Temple to teach these classes. The Yuen also launched Taoist music classes and established the Sik Sik Yuen musician group
In the same year, in response to modern medical management, the distribution of divine medical prescription officially came to an end. The contents of these immortal elixirs were preserved in the form of cultural preservation.
2006: Open recruitment of members and disciples, and institution of an abbot to manage religious affairs
For the first time, members and disciples were recruited in an open manner.
In the same year, the board of directors officially appointed Dr. Lee Yiu-fai (Yee Kok) as the first abbot of Sik Sik Yuen and tasked him with the management of its religious affairs.
2008: Expansion and renovation works on the Main Altar and the First Worshipping Platform
The expansion and renovation works on the Main Altar and the First Worshipping Platform officially commenced this year and were completed in 2010.
In the same year, the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Community Development Fund was established, which was handled by the Wong Tai Sin District Office with full authority to promote the development of the Wong Tai Sin community, improve social issues and other matters in the district.
2011: Opening of the Taisui Yuenchen Hall
The Taisui Yuenchen Hall was opened.
In the same year, the Fuk Tak Shrine, God of Wealth Shrine, and God of Medicine Shrine were added to the First Worshipping Platform. In addition, the Statue of Yuelao and Couples were erected next to the Yuk Yik Fountain for worshipping.
2012: Creating Bonds Through Prayer
To further educate worshippers about the rituals and culture of Sik Sik Yuen, the Yuen holds scriptures and repentance rituals to allow worshippers to recite the scriptures and worship the immortals alongside Taoist masters.
2013: To Make a Green Temple• To Build a Green Organization
With “To Make a Green Temple• To Build a Green Organization” as its slogan, Sik Sik Yuen officially launched its smoke elimination system and reusable incense green projects.
2014: Official inclusion of the Wong Tai Sin Belief and Customs as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage
The Wong Tai Sin Belief and Customs of Hong Kong was formally included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China - Fourth Batch. After that, Sik Sik Yuen assumed the responsibility of conservation to comprehensively promote the relevant work and teach the public the belief and spirit of Wong Tai Sin.
2016: Wong Tai Sin Spiritual Kinship Establishment (Shangqi) Ceremony
Establishing spiritual kinship with Master Wong Tai Sin is an important element of the Wong Tai Sin Belief and Customs of Hong Kong, and this has always been performed through Shangqi ceremonies. In response to the requests of worshippers, Sik Sik Yuen organized the first Wong Tai Sin Shangqi Ceremony to help worshippers establish a spiritual kinship with Master Wong Tai Sin.
2018: Completion of the Dao Enlightenment Hall and the first “First Writing Ceremony (Enlightened by Confucius)”
The Nine Dragon Wall building complex was completed and released to the public, and was called the Dao Enlightenment Hall.
In the same year, Sik Sik Yuen held the first “First Writing Ceremony (Enlightened by Confucius)”, which is a combination of Taoist rituals and Confucian teachings.
2020: Doing good deeds amid the Outbreak
The COVID-19 outbreak has been serious and there was a shortage of anti-epidemic resources. In April, with the assistance of its volunteer group, Sik Sik Yuen packed 5,000 anti-epidemic kits and gave them to charity organizations that needed them. Since then, the Yuen has collaborated with various organizations to distribute anti-epidemic kits.
2021: 100th Anniversary
In 2021, Sik Sik Yuen will have accompanied the people of Hong Kong from under Lion Rock for 100 years.
To promote the belief and culture of Wong Tai Sin, the Yuen built the Cultural Centre for Wong Tai Sin Belief and Customs to introduce the culture of the worship of gods to visitors in the form of interactive multimedia. In addition, the God of Wealth Shrine was built at the First Worshipping Platform as part of its expansions so that worshippers could visit and worship at the shrine.
In the future, Sik Sik Yuen will continue moving forward with Hong Kong, actively keep abreast of the times, advocate actions and teachings of benevolence, and promote a culture of kindness.