More than a temple : the study of the origins and development of Tung Lin Kok Yuen

Abstract

Located in 15 Shan Kwong Road in Happy Valley, Tung Lin Kok Yuen (TLKY - 東蓮覺苑) founded by Lady Clara Ho Tung in 1935, was recognized as a Declared Monument in 2015. TLKY is the only Buddhist temple in Hong Kong designed in the Chinese Renaissance Architecture (中華復興建築) style with a triangular configuration, which is unlike traditional Chinese Buddhist temples that are usually in rectangular configurations. However, its layout arrangement is typical of a Chinese Buddhist monastic design with various Buddhist halls organized systematically along a central axis. It is the only Buddhist temple in Hong Kong that is in the Chinese Renaissance Architecture style which does not resemble traditional Chinese Buddhist temples. Why would this occur? This thesis explores the rationale behind the design of TLKY, which has set itself apart from the traditional Chinese Buddhist temple. Research methodologies including interviews, literature review, site visits and archival visits have been conducted to investigate the research questions. Based on the findings, three major factors affecting the design were found, namely i) the owner, Lady Clara Ho Tung’s personal travel experiences and preferences, ii) site constraint due to its configuration and the Crown Lease restrictions as well as iii) architect Fung Tsun’s involvement in Chinese Renaissance Architecture in Palmer & Turner and Venerable Ai Ting’s advice on the Buddhist temple requirements. As there are a series of factors that contribute to the design of a building, when appreciating and assessing the cultural values of heritage buildings, we cannot rely solely on their appearances but require a deeper investigation on the underlying factors. However, the heritage appraisals conducted previously for TLKY were physical fabric based focusing mainly on its architectural merits. It is therefore recommended that more comprehensive studies should be carried out to dig into the underlying factors, such as the influence of its owners, architect, and the site conditions. This approach will help a more in-depth understanding of the cultural significance of a heritage building and inform its interpretation.