A-Ma Temple already existed before the city of
Macao came into being. The name “Macao” is believed to derive from the Chinese
“A-Ma-Gau” meaning “Bay of A-Ma”, on which A-Ma Temple is located. A-Ma Temple
is situated halfway up the western slope of Barra Hill. It consists of the Gate
Pavilion, the Memorial Arch, the Prayer Hall, the Hall of Benevolence, the Hall
of Guanyin, and Zhengjiao Chanlin (a Buddhist pavilion), each forming a
small part of the well-ordered complex which sits in perfect harmony with the
natural environment. The variety of pavilions dedicated to the worship of
different deities in a single complex make A-Ma Temple an exemplary
representation of Chinese culture inspired by Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and
multiple folk beliefs.

The pavilions of A-Ma Temple were built at
different times, with its present scale acquired in 1828. The Hall of
Benevolence is believed to be the earliest structure, dating back to 1488. The
Prayer Hall or “The First Palace of the Holy Mountain” was built in 1605 and
rebuilt in 1629; archaeological evidence of these dates was recovered on stone
inscriptions at the pavilion. The date of construction for the Hall of Guanyin
is unknown, but an inscription on a timber plaque at the entrance gives the date
of a restoration conducted in the year 1828. Zhengjiao Chanlin was
restored in the same year.