First Daoist/Traditional Chinese Temples in the U.S. - Timeline Event
Time Period
1849
Description
The first Chinese temples opened in San Francisco in the mid-19th century and were founded by clan associations that supported the social welfare and religious needs of immigrant communities. While they were predominately Buddhist, worship within the temples more often consisted of a mix among Buddhist, Daoist or Confucian figures.
Among the first Daoist, also known as Taoist, worship centers in San Francisco were the Kong Chow Temple, founded in 1849 by Cantonese immigrants, and Tin How Temple, founded in 1852.
Among the first Daoist, also known as Taoist, worship centers in San Francisco were the Kong Chow Temple, founded in 1849 by Cantonese immigrants, and Tin How Temple, founded in 1852.
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Photographs
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Kong Chow Temple, San Francisco- Flickr- photo by Jan Gosmann (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Kong Chow Temple of Quan Dai, interior- Internet Archive- from The Chamber of Commerce Handbook for San Francisco by Frank Morton Todd
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Tin How Temple, San Fransisco- Flickr- photo by Gary Stevens (CC BY 2.0)
Book/Journal Source(s)
Tweed, Thomas, 2000. The American Encounter with Buddhism, 1844-1912: Victorian Culture and the Limits of Dissent Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.Tweed, Thomas A. and Stephen Prothero (Eds.), 1999. Asian Religions in America New York: Oxford University Press.
Web Page Contributor
Sandi DolbeeAffliated with: Former Religion and Ethics Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune
