Kirin Rising 麒麟革命
A unique cultural event is announced for the Yen Wo Society Summer Picnic on Sunday, August 17th, 2025 11am - 2pm in the Esquimalt Gorge Park
Proudly announcing 'Kirin Rising 麒麟革命 ' <https://www.instagram.com/kirin.rising>, the only active youth-led Hakka Kirin Chinese Unicorn Dance team on the continent.
Traveling from Vancouver’s Chinatown, the team will pay tribute to Canada’s oldest Hakka association, founded in 1905.
For the first time in recent history, this Hakka unicorn dance will be performed in Victoria.
Hakka, meaning “guest family", a distinct Chinese community who have faced historical displacement and continue to be marginalized in pan-Chinese spaces locally and globally.
The Yen Wo Society, the oldest and remaining Hakka institution in Victoria, has been stewarded by Hakka women for decades.
Welcome to Kirin Rising, also led by women, queer, and gender-diverse youth, continues this legacy by reclaiming a cultural practice often overlooked in Chinatowns and beyond.
Distinct from Cantonese lion or dragon dances, the Kirin Dance holds special significance in Hakka culture.
This performance and gathering of Hakka cultural organizations represents a rare expression of cultural continuity, care, and self-determination spanning generations and geographies.
Tickets for the picnic are almost sold out.
To reserve yours email:
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The Places of the Next Great Save 2025
https://historicplacesdays.ca/visitlists/the-places-of-the-next-great-save-2025/
by Jessica Sadlowski | Historic Building, House Museum/Homestead, National Trust Passport Place, Places of Faith, Theatre/Dance Hall
In Spring 2025, the National Trust for Canada with the support of Ecclesiastical Insurance hosted the Next Great Save competition. The competition was created to empower communities to save heritage places that matter by awarding prize money to put toward projects that adapt, renew or improve heritage places for the future
From a historic theatre to a 19th-century ranch, this year’s finalists are all cultural landmarks in Canada’s rich history. The finalists have proposed innovative projects to transform historic places to better serve their modern communities, including initiatives to advance belonging, public engagement, and climate adaptation. Learn more about our finalists below!
Places
Victoria, British Columbia
Tam Kung Temple, located in Victoria’s historic Chinatown, came in second place in the Next Great Save 2025! Established in 1876, it is Canada’s oldest Chinese temple.
Tam Kung Temple won 2nd place!
Exciting news to share — thanks to incredible community support, we won 2nd place and secured $10,000 in preservation funding for the Tam Kung Temple! Over 16,400 votes came through, and the funds will go toward building a new welcome and visitor centre to help share the Temple’s story.
What makes this even more special is that the Temple is run by a handful of dedicated volunteers and a membership of just 60 people — it was the heart, generosity, and support from friends like you that made this possible. Thank you so much for standing with us over these past 17 days 💜
Please come for a visit soon, we would be happy to take you for a tour. Open everyday 10-3
Temple Donation
Carol Charlebois, President, and Lisa Bengston of the Victoria Canada -China Friendship Association (VCCFA) recently visited the Tam Kung Temple to present a $10,000 cheque in support of the Yen Wo Society’s ongoing renovation projects.
VCCFA fosters friendship and understanding between the peoples of Canada and China. Further to a legacy from the estate of a past member, Paula Achemitchuk, the VCCFA did its research to identify projects of historical significance and growth within Victoria’s Chinatown. They chose the Tam Kung Temple and combined Association and Legacy funds to comprise their donation.
Nora Butz, Yen Wo Society President, expressed deep appreciation on behalf of the Tam Kung Temple and community.
About Us
History
Tam Kung Temple (est.1876) is the oldest Chinese temple in Canada, located in Victoria Chinatown. It is under the guardianship of the Yen Wo Society, a non-profit organization established by the Chinese Hakka community in 1905.
Hakka is a Chinese clan-dialect and Hakkaliterally means the ‘guest people’. The Hakka people originated from the northern and central parts of China, and migrated southward to the Province of Guangdong in the thirteenth century. They were one of the early Chinese clan groups that arrived in North America during the 19th century. Today, the Hakka people in southern China have continued to maintain their Hakka language and culture.
According to geographer David Chuenyan Lai, there are various potential origin myths for the deity Tam Kung. One claimed he was an abandoned youngster with supernatural abilities to stop diseases from spreading, calm sea storms, and bring rain. According to a different version, Tam Kung was a courageous Hakka elder who, in 1278, assisted the seven-year-old Emperor Bing of the Song Dynasty to escape from the Mongol army. According to a third tale, Tam Kung was a made-up name for the young Emperor Bing, who was later deified.
The foundation of Tam Kung Temple in Canada dates back to the 1860s, when a Hakka gold seeker from Guangdong Province brought the statuette of Tam Kung with him to safeguard his journey across the Pacific Ocean. Before the Hakka native left for the Fraser River to seek gold, he placed the statuette in a wooden niche-like box near the Johnson Street ravine for his countrymen to pay homage.
A Hakka native from Guangdong Province, Ngai Sze, dreamt that Tam Kung came to him and told him to build a temple to provide a safe space for spiritual guidance, cultural unity, and honouring ancestors. Ngai Sze, along with several members of the Hakka Chinese community, actively fundraised to collect monies to purchase a temple site.
In 1876, Tsay Ching and Dong Sang, on behalf of the Hakka community, purchased the property located near the corner of Fisgard and Government Street. Tam Kung Temple was established in a single-story framed structure located on this site.
In 1912, the Society demolished the one-story building and erected a four-level building on the same site. Tam Kung Temple was moved to the top floor of this narrow, brick building. For more than a century, the Yen Wo Society has continued its role as the custodian of Tam Kung Temple, responsible for its preservation and maintenance.
Tam Kung Temple is open to the public and welcomes both local and international visitors. Believers visit the temple to consult Tam Kung for guidance on how to handle difficult life issues or how to recover from an illness. A believer will kneel and shake a bamboo tube with 103 bamboo sticks after making a offering of incense. Each stick has a number that correlates to a verse from an oracle that offers guidance from Tam Kung.
Board Members
Nora Butz, President 250 889 8329
Yee Wan Ngai Vice President
Linda Chu Treasurer / Secretary
Lori Wong Director
Shirley Ngai Director
Wilson Louie Director
Ann Wong Director
Related Sites
The Tam Kung Temple was designated as a national historic site in 2025.
Government of Canada recognizes Tam Kung Temple having national historic significance.
CHEK News: Nearly 150-year-old Chinese temple in Victoria designated National Historic Site
CBC Vancouver : Saving Canada's oldest Chinese temple
Oldest Chinese Temple Victoria with FTV logo (Cantonese)
Oldest Chinese Temple Victoria with TTV logo (Mandarin)
University of Victoria China Town Library
Donations
Charity Donations
We Accept donations. Saanich Legacy Foundation issues tax receipts for either Tam Kung Temple or Yen Wo Society.
Go to https://www.saanichlegacy.ca/project/tam-kung-temple-yen-wo-society, select under Project to donate to “Tam Kung Temple”.
Method 1: Cheques may be made out to Yen Wo Society
Method 2: e-Transfer donate@tamkungtemple.ca
Method 3: Please scan the QR code on the right to donate.
Contact at: Nora Butz: (250) 889 8329
Jackie Ngai: (250) 889 7655
Tam Kung Temple designated a National Historic Site by the Government of Canada - February 2025
https://www.parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/lieu-site/temple-tam-kung
“Standing tall since 1876 in Victoria's Historic Chinatown, the Tam Kung Temple is a cherished landmark for Chinese-Canadian history via Trans-Pacific migration. Greatly honoured with a national historic designation by the Government of Canada, our cultural ties and customs are anchored here by the strength and resilience of forebearers. All are welcome within to this place of peace and respite, contemplation and community."
Gayle Nye
Proponent of the nomination, on behalf of Ngai Shee descendants and families
Contact Us
Welcome visitors!
Ascend the Tam Kung Temple stairway, immerse yourself in Chinese Culture, History and Hospitality.
**Seated Stairwell ascender is available for Mobile Accessibility
Yen Wo Society - Tam Kung Temple
Cheques may be made out to Yen Wo Society
Email yenwosociety@gmail.com
Opening hours
Open today | 10:00 a.m. – 03:00 p.m. |
2025 Tam Kung Temple Picnic
Victoria Royals Lunar New Year Event: February 2024
Victoria Royals Lunar New Year Event: February 2024
Friends of the Yen Wo Society, Fancy and David Foundation, invited Society members to attend the Victoria Royals Lunar New Year Event, held on February 16 & 17, 2024. During game time, the Society ran an information / fundraising booth, as part of its community outreach program to promote cultural awareness.
Staff and players of the Victoria Royals visited Tam Kung Temple, and found themselves in the space where the Chinese pioneers found cultural unity during Canada’s early period of nation building. The young hockey players said that the temple had a “cool history”; it was so “hidden away”; and there were “a lot of takeaways.” They had an “awesome experience” and were “really glad to come here.”
We graciously thank Fancy and David, and the Victoria Royals for their generosity and support which has enabled us to continue with our efforts to restore and conserve the Yen Wo Society Building, home of Tam Kung Temple, Canada’s oldest Chinese temple (1876),
