Thian Hock Keng Temple

Thian Hock Keng Temple (Chinese: 天福宫; pinyin: Tiānfú Gōng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Thian-hok-kiong; Temple of Heavenly Happiness; also:Tianfu Gong Temple) is the oldest and most important Fukien, or Hoklo (Hokkien) temple in Singapore. The main temple is dedicated to Mazu, the Taoist goddess of the sea and protector of all seamen, while a second temple at the back is a Buddhist one dedicated to Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva of mercy.

Thian Hock Keng Temple was gazetted as a national monument on 6 July 1973.

History

Thian Hock Keng is one of the oldest and most important Hokkien temples in Singapore. It was visited by Chinese immigrants on arrival from across the rough South China Sea. giving thanks to Ma Zu (Goddess of the Sea) for their safe voyage.

In 1839, under the leadership of Mr. Tan Tock Seng and Mr. Si Hoo Keh, the Hokkien clan built the temple in Telok Ayer Street. It also housed the clan's office and served as a meeting venue. The construction of Thian Hock Keng was completed in 1842.

There is also a plaque inscribed with the words Bo Jing Nan Ming (Gentle Waves over the South Seas) presented by Qing Dynasty Emperor Guang Xu in 1907, evidence of the temple's stature.

The temple was built in traditional southern Chinese architectural style. The entire structure was assembled without nails. It is an architectural masterpiece of stone, tiles and wood, dragons and phoenixes, amazing carvings, intricate sculptures and imposing columns.

Thian Hock Keng has been restored several times. The most comprehensive one commenced in 1998 and was completed in December 2000. This restoration project won 4 architectural awards, including the most prestigious award from UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage 2001 Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation Building.

Architecture

Constructed in the temple architectural style of southern China, Thian Hock Keng has a grand entrance with a high step in front. The side entrance gates feature brightly coloured tiles portraying peacocks, roses and the universal Buddhist swastika in green and brown. This symbol represents good luck, eternity and immortality.

Guarding the doors are tigers, lions and Door Gods, traditional sentinels of any Taoist temple. Beyond this elaborate entrance are two courtyards. Straddling the courtyards is the temple proper, comprising the shrine of Ma Cho Po. On either sides of the temple are pagodas; the one on the left is a shrine of Confucius while the one on the right houses ancestral tablets of immigrants who founded the temple.

Location: Close to Telok Aryer MRT and on the way to Chinatown

Open: Daily, 7.30am – 5.30pm

Address: 158 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068613

Phone: +65 6423 4616

Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thian_Hock_Keng

http://www.thianhockkeng.com.sg/home.html