Bok Kai Temple

Bok Kai Temple (Chinese: 北溪廟)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
California Historical Landmark No. 889
Full view of the Bok Kai Temple
Location	Marysville, California
Coordinates	39°8′5.98″N 121°35′13.03″W
Built	1880
NRHP reference No.	75000498
CHISL No.	889
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 21, 1975
Designated CHISL	1975

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 served as the center of what was a bustling Chinatown for a small town known as the "Gateway to the Gold Fields".

History

When the Chinese from the Pearl River Delta west of Canton arrived in California during the gold rush, many on their way to work the gold mines landed in riverboats at Marysville. Its importance as a supply depot grew and was imprinted in their Cantonese language: Marysville was 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).

In the 1860s, a temple was erected in Marysville to serve its substantial Chinese population. The history of the original temple(s) is unclear, but in 1880 a new one was built and dedicated. The foremost of the gods that are worshiped is Běidì (北帝; 'North Deity', Cantonese: Pak Tai, Bok Tai; non-standard Toishanese: Buck Eye, Beuk Aie), also known as 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.

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.

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.

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  The dragon in the parade at the annual Bok Kai festival
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  The front view of the Bok Kai Temple
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  The gate of the Bok Kai Temple from the street
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  Bok Kai Temple historical marker plaque
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  Small sedan chair for the Gods
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  Exhibition

References

Further reading

• Tom, Brian; Tom, Lawrence (2008). Marysville's Chinatown. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738559766.
• Tom, Lawrence; Tom, Brian (2020). Gold Country's Last Chinatown: Marysville, California. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. ISBN 9781467143233.

External links

• Bok Kai Temple - Friends of the Marysville Bok Kai Temple
• Bok Kai Festival - Chinese Community of Marysville, California