Tam Kong Temple and Tam Kong

Tam Sin, also known as Tam Kong, was allegedly a deity of the Nine Dragon Peak of Huizhou city of Guangdong province who had attained deityhood around 12 to 13 years old. Being gifted with unusual abilities (able to see the future and treat all kinds of illness), he offered free consultation and medicine to the impoverished. The fishing households respect Tam Kong a lot and have a strong faith in him. He is an important deity held in awe by the townsfolk of Coloane.

The Tam Kong Temple is nowadays the most venerated temple in Coloane. During the Feast of Tam Kong which falls on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, “operas for the celestials” are staged to honor him.

Having one of the most spacious open areas in front of the Temple across Macao with conditions far better than that of Largo do Pagode da Barra, a huge matshed theatre is built on the open area during every Feast of Tam Kong to perform “operas for the celestials”. But due to its massive dimension, its stage is not facing directly to the Temple where the deity is housed. Thus an altar is suspended at the rear end of the theatre for the statue of Tam Kong to be seated at a height to watch the play.