Tin How Temple
Tin How Temple
3.5
About
A temple where tourists can light incense at the gilded shrine of Tien Hua, Protector of Travelers.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
As the oldest in North America, San Francisco's Chinatown is an exotic experience. A unique neighbourhood decorated with colourful shops, historic streetlights, hanging lanterns, and pagoda roofs awaits behind the stone-carved dragon gates. Feast on dim sum at the tea houses, or meet the locals who gather at historic Portsmouth Square to play chess or practice Tai Chi. Fish markets, produce stands, tourist shops, jewelry stores, fortune tellers, temples and restaurants come together to create a world unto itself in this historic neighbourhood.
How to get there
- Montgomery St • 10 min walk
- Montgomery St • 10 min walk
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3.5
37 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
17
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
4
MCGeoNinja
Texarkana, TX66 contributions
May 2019 • Family
For a real feel for the influence of Chinese in America, visit this temple. It is NOT a tourist area - it is a real working temple. Please be respectful. It is tiny, but great. There is a lot of history here, and you can have your fortune read. Really unique experience.
Written 14 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl B
Honolulu, HI426 contributions
Dec 2017 • Friends
The steps and location seem daunting but the promise of seeing the oldest temple had us headed to the top. Having lived in Asia, we were very conscious of being respectful while there. The actual religious items were exquisite. The ladies watching over the temple might seem unfriendly but it may be because their first language is not English. To us, they were very helpful getting the incense for our offering and thanked us for visiting. Itʻs the experience, not a picture.
Written 7 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mech C
135 contributions
After looking for the temple for awhile, we finally found the temple....impress with the temple which was now at 104 years old....its really impressive to be able to pray here.....love the feeling of relieve after praying......
Written 31 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shufei
Mojave Desert, North America1 contribution
Tin How Temple (天后古廟) ranks as one of the oldest Chinese temples in North America, dating back to the 1850's, when early immigrants from Guangdong province in China arrived to seek their fortune on America's "Gold Mountain". Most stayed, despite discrimination, establishing traditional religious services in local temples (known then as joss houses) and in the shrines of benevolent associations. One of two temples in Chinatown surviving from that time (the other being the Guang Gong Temple), the Tin How Temple has long a place of worship for believers in Chinese Popular Religion, the folk-based mixture of Daoist, Confucian, Buddhist, and local traditions, in San Francisco and the surrounding area. This joss house gave its name to secluded and stately Waverly Place (Tin How Lane 天后路). While the current building dates from the post-1906 Fire era, Tin How Temple has been at this location or near it since its founding. The holy icons and many altar trappings were saved from the fire and returned upon rebuilding.
There are several deities enshrined here, but the central altar seats Tin How/Tian Hou (天后), the Empress of Heaven, also known as Mazu/Matsu (媽祖) or Holy Mother of Heaven Above (天上聖母). A goddess mostly worshipped by the peoples of Southeast China, there is an English hagiography and breviary available in the Tin How Temple describing the earthly life of Lin Moniang （林默娘）, and how She attained enlightenment and ascension as the Empress of Heaven over 1000 years ago. Written by the local Daoist priest serving the temple in the 1970's, the complementary pamphlet (in the brown cover on the side table) also includes short prayers, invocations, and a Chinese vita of the goddess. Small editions of Tin How's devotional scripture are also usually available for free.
The busiest days at the temple are Chinese New Year, the Birthday of Tian Hou in springtime, and the first and fifteenth of each Chinese month. Crowds tightly pack the small sanctuary to burn incense in prayer for a good year. Vegetarian food is also sometimes available for the pilgrims. On other days the temple is usually open during normal business hours for the prayer needs of the faithful. One may obtain a small blessed talisman from the temple (look for the printed red cloth triangles hung on strings); a $1 donation is requested. After bowing in prayer can of bamboo divination slips (靈籤) can be shaken until one slip pops out; the number on the slip indicates a divinatory poem of the Tianhou Oracle on the stacked little papers. The caretakers and members of the temple are all very friendly; while they sometimes speak little Mandarin or English, they are happy to help travellers and answer any question.
Any traveller wishing to deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese culture and its enduring legacy in America likewise should visit. Daoist, Buddhist, or Chinese believers journeying to San Francisco especially ought to pay call on Mazu, the Empress of Heaven at the Tin How Temple.
There are several deities enshrined here, but the central altar seats Tin How/Tian Hou (天后), the Empress of Heaven, also known as Mazu/Matsu (媽祖) or Holy Mother of Heaven Above (天上聖母). A goddess mostly worshipped by the peoples of Southeast China, there is an English hagiography and breviary available in the Tin How Temple describing the earthly life of Lin Moniang （林默娘）, and how She attained enlightenment and ascension as the Empress of Heaven over 1000 years ago. Written by the local Daoist priest serving the temple in the 1970's, the complementary pamphlet (in the brown cover on the side table) also includes short prayers, invocations, and a Chinese vita of the goddess. Small editions of Tin How's devotional scripture are also usually available for free.
The busiest days at the temple are Chinese New Year, the Birthday of Tian Hou in springtime, and the first and fifteenth of each Chinese month. Crowds tightly pack the small sanctuary to burn incense in prayer for a good year. Vegetarian food is also sometimes available for the pilgrims. On other days the temple is usually open during normal business hours for the prayer needs of the faithful. One may obtain a small blessed talisman from the temple (look for the printed red cloth triangles hung on strings); a $1 donation is requested. After bowing in prayer can of bamboo divination slips (靈籤) can be shaken until one slip pops out; the number on the slip indicates a divinatory poem of the Tianhou Oracle on the stacked little papers. The caretakers and members of the temple are all very friendly; while they sometimes speak little Mandarin or English, they are happy to help travellers and answer any question.
Any traveller wishing to deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese culture and its enduring legacy in America likewise should visit. Daoist, Buddhist, or Chinese believers journeying to San Francisco especially ought to pay call on Mazu, the Empress of Heaven at the Tin How Temple.
Written 19 August 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
krzyk
Poland64 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
After climbing a staircase (and reading various things that we can't do in the temple) we entered it and were told: "No children!" and asked to leave. Strange I didn't know that I look like a child (there were only two of us, me and my wife). Very bad experience, if they don't want visitors they should state that at the entrance to the staircase, not by yelling at tourist.
I've been to other Buddhist temples in Asia and were welcomed there, not sure why they are so rude in this one.
So all tourists beware, you are not welcome there.
I've been to other Buddhist temples in Asia and were welcomed there, not sure why they are so rude in this one.
So all tourists beware, you are not welcome there.
Written 28 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndreS000000
Los Angeles, CA801 contributions
An old temple hidden inside an unassuming building in Chinatown, you'll walk up three flights up stairs and enter a small apartment converted into a shrine. Then, thirty seconds later, you'll walk out.
Written 17 February 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bradshawgirl
Jackson, Miss.756 contributions
May 2017 • Family
During a recent walking tour of Chinatown, my sisters and I climbed three narrow flights of stairs into another world, the Tin How Temple. This small space is the oldest Chinese temple in the U.S., and it's fantastic. Bright red paper banners hang from the ceiling. A large shrine dominates the room. I decided to offer a $5 donation. For this sum, the sweet Chinese lady who mans the temple guided me through lighting incense and inquiring about my future. (Her advice to me? If you have a sore spot in your life, "Don't poke at it! Let it be.") She also gave me a packet of lucky tea to take with me. This was a stellar stop, and I'd recommend it to anybody. Unfortunately, they don't allow photos inside, so I can't show you what a beautiful and exotic space it is.
Written 9 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indiana_Jonesse
San Francisco, CA7,046 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
Some people who are not familiar with buddhism, taoism or any other spiritually may find this place boring with nothing to note for. For others, they can appreciate the climb up the stairs and spend a few minutes to view the decors, offerings and colorful surroundings. Photos are prohibited. Observe silence. This is rather tiny and narrow. It does not cost anything to enter but donations are accepted. Located right in the center of Chinatown. The entrance may be hard to find as it is tiny and you have to look up.
Written 3 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nikolaik
Pittsburgh, PA585 contributions
June 2016 • Family
We visited the temple as part of a tour we were taking with Wild SF. The views were great from the top. The temple itself was very pretty. Lots of red lanterns hanging from the ceiling. They did not allow photos of them though. We were glad to have our guide with us because he was able to explain the culture and customs practiced. Going up and down, we heard some people playing on traditional insruments and singing. Neat experience.
Written 17 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ginabradshaw2013
Garrison, Texas USA26 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
After spending about 40 minutes in Chinatown trying to locate the small temple and asking all the locals, which had never heard of it...ran across an American giving a walking tour who told us that we had walked by it three times! Yes! It is that small and hard to find! I didn't find the stairs a difficult walk at all but highly disappointed in the size and not being able to take pictures even though no one using the temple. The guy at the temple couldn't answer a single question about the temple or the prayers that took place inside the temple. Oh well! Certainly wouldn't waste time doing that again!
Written 23 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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