Bok Kai Temple (Chinese: 北溪廟)
Full view of the Bok Kai Temple
Bok Kai Temple is located in California
Bok Kai Temple
Bok Kai Temple is located in the United States
Bok Kai Temple
LocationMarysville, California
Coordinates39°8′5.98″N 121°35′13.03″W / 39.1349944°N 121.5869528°W / 39.1349944; -121.5869528
Built1880
NRHP reference No.75000498[1]
CHISL No.889
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 21, 1975
Designated CHISL1975[2]

The Bok Kai Temple (Chinese: 北溪廟, literally North Creek Temple) is a traditional Chinese temple in the city of Marysville, California, located at the corner of D and First Streets. Since 1880, it has served as the center of what was a bustling Chinatown for a small town.[3]

History

In 1854, five years after the first contingent of Chinese arrived in California to work the gold mines during the California Gold Rush, a temple was erected in Marysville to serve the Chinese emigrant population from the Pearl River Delta west of Canton or Guangzhou, Guangdong. The foremost of the gods that are worshiped is Xuan Wu, (玄武 "Dark Warrior" or "Mysterious Warrior"), a Deity in Chinese folk religion believed to govern the northern region and rain, hence its place of reverence at Bok Kai Temple, or Northern Creek Temple.[4]: 45–67 

The original temple was destroyed by fire, and was replaced in 1880. Since then, it has served as the center of a significant Chinatown in Marysville. The historical importance of Marysville to the Chinese-American community has been imprinted in its language. In Cantonese, Marysville is known as Sahm Fou (三埠, Third City); Sacramento Yee Fou (二埠, Second City); and San Francisco Dai Fou (大埠, The Big City).[3]: 17  [5]

The temple remains a primary focus of the present Marysville Chinese-American community, who have dedicated themselves to preserving the temple and celebrating the Bok Kai Festival.[6]

Current use

The temple is infrequently used as an active place of worship, but is preserved as both a California Historical Landmark and as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places. A Bok Kai festival and parade is held annually in the spring, during which time the temple is opened for ceremonies as well as for interested parties to tour. Other tours may be arranged by contacting the Temple caretaker.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Bok Kai Temple". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Tom, Brian; Tom, Lawrence (2008). Marysville's Chinatown. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738559766.
  4. ↑ Tom, Lawrence; Tom, Brian (2020). Gold Country's Last Chinatown: Marysville, California. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. ISBN 9781467143233.
  5. ↑ Chan, Sucheng (August 1984). "Chinese Livelihood in Rural California: The Impact of Economic Change, 1860-1880". Pacific Historical Review. 53 (3): 273-307. doi:10.2307/3639231. Retrieved December 3, 2023. To this day, Chinese Americans call San Francisco "Dai Fou" (Big City), Sacramento "Yee Fou" (Second City), and Marysville "Sam Fou" (Third City).
  6. 1 2 "'Bomb Day' touches off proud tradition in Marysville". sfgate.com. March 24, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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