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Tam Kung is an important patron deity of seafarers. His birthday festival, which coincides with Buddha's, is celebrated with considerable devotion and fanfare at the Tam Kung Temple, built in 1905 in the Shau Kei Wan district on Hong Kong Island. Shau Kei Wan is also known as Ah Kung Yam, or "Ancestor's Rocky Hill". In Chinese Folk Legend, Tam Kung was one of gods who could forecast the weather. He could calm storms by throwing peas into the air, or cause them by throwing water. His cult is strong in coastal areas like Hong Kong and Macau. He was born in Huizhou Prefecture. It was said that he could cure patients in his childhood. Tam Kung became an immortal in heaven at the age of twenty in the Nine-dragon Mountain in Huizhou. This cryptic figure was of human origin, born in Guangdong province during the Ching dynasty, and that he is the object of devotion and veneration for boatsmen and seafarers in the region, who invoke him for the protection of their livelihood, safety and good luck during the coming year. A temple dedicated to this deity is located at the end of Shau Kei Wan Man Street East , Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong, and was originally a small shrine. Local people raised money to construct it in 1905 and reconstructed it many times afterwards. The statue of Tam Kung, which was first worshipped among the other gods in the temple, was formerly positioned in the Tam Kung Temple in Tam Kung Road in Kowloon City . There is a big rock in front of the temple and is believed to be Tam Kung's magic stamp. Local residents and fishermen are the sincere worshippers. On the birthday of Tam Kung (8th of April in Lunar calendar), they will have a celebration and play a so-called "kung fu" show, which is a major part of the celebration. There is also a Tam Kung Temple at Rua de Cinco de Outubro in Coloane , Macao . On Tam Kung's birthday on the 8th day of the 4th month in Chinese calendar , a special ceremony including parade and dragon dance is held in honor of him.
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