上環文武廟

文武廟是供奉文昌帝及關帝的廟宇，而上環的文武廟更是香港開埠初期華人的仲裁機關，在香港眾多廟宇中有著特殊的地位。文武廟是早年華人及行會聚集議事的地方，而有關本區經濟、商業發展或其他大事，亦多在此仲裁、商議。

節錄自丁新豹《香港歷史散步》

October, 2015

1/125 sec. f/4.5 16 mm

ISO 200

Fujifilm X-A2

The earliest of these voluntary organizations (established by local Chinese elites) was the Man Mo Temple, founded in 1847 by Loo Aqui (盧阿桂) and Tam Achoy (譚三才). Although its ostensible (外表的) purpose was to worship the gods of literature and war and to observe religious festivals, the temple served other important functions. It soon became the main social center for Hong Kong's Chinese population, regardless of their regional or occupational affiliations (聯繫). The temple also evolved into the self-managed, informal government of the Chinese community, with the merchants electing a committee to deliberate (仔細討論) disputes. Thus, between the Man Mo Temple and the smaller neighborhood committees, the Chinese community soon developed mechanisms for managing its own affairs. Although the European community often eyed the temple suspiciously for clandestinely (祕密地) controlling "native affairs," the colonial government was happy with the arrangement since it fit with the government's policy of ruling the Chinese on the cheap.

Carroll, J.M. (2007). A Concise History of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.