When was the Thian Hock Keng temple built?
Built in 1839 with the support of prominent members of the Hokkien community, such as philanthropist Tan Tock Seng, Thian Hock Keng Temple is Singapore’s oldest Chinese temple.
Who built the Thian Hock Keng Temple?
Tan Tock Seng
Inscribed on a granite tablet set in the wall of the entrance hall is a list of donors who contributed to the construction. Tan Tock Seng (陈笃生), a Malaccan-born pioneer and well-known philanthropist, was recorded to have given a handsome sum of 3,000 Spanish dollars and was the largest contributor of funds.
What is the oldest temple in Singapore?
- The Sri Mariamman Temple (Tamil: ஸ்ரீ மாரியம்மன் கோவில்) is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple.
- The Sri Mariamman Temple was founded in 1827 by Naraina Pillai, eight years after the East India Company established a trading settlement in Singapore.
What role function did Thian Hock Keng Temple play for the Chinese community in Singapore during the 19th and 20th century?
Thian Hock Keng Temple was mainly dedicated to the Goddess of Mazu, and in the 19th century it was frequented by Hokkien junk-owners and Chinese immigrants, who came to offer thanks for a safe sea voyage from southeast China. When Thian Hock Keng Temple was built, the original Mazu statue was sculpted in China.
Why were places such as the Thian Hock Keng temple important to immigrants in Singapore?
The temple originated as a small joss house first built around 1821–1822 at the waterfront serving the local Hokkien community, where seafarers and immigrants gave their thanks to the sea goddess Mazu for a safe sea passage on their arrival to Singapore.
How many Hindu temples are there in Singapore?
thirty main Hindu temples
There are currently about thirty main Hindu temples in Singapore.
Why is Thian Hock Keng important?
Thian Hock Keng (Chinese: 天福宮; pinyin: Tiānfú Gōng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Thian-hok-keng or the Tianfu Temple, literally “Palace of Heavenly Happiness”), is a temple built for the worship of Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, located in Singapore. It is the oldest and most important temple of the Hokkien (Hoklo) people in the country.
Why was Thian Hock Keng built?
Thian Hock Keng (Chinese: 天福宮; pinyin: Tiānfú Gōng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Thian-hok-keng or the Tianfu Temple, literally “Palace of Heavenly Happiness”), is a temple built for the worship of Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, located in Singapore.
Why was Sri Mariamman temple built?
Commonly referred to as Mariamman Kovil (“Mariamman Temple” in Tamil), the temple was constructed for the worship of Goddess Mariamman by immigrants from the Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts of South India. The temple was established by Indian pioneer Naraina Pillai (also spelt Narayana Pillay) in 1827.
How many temples are there in Singapore?
There are currently about thirty main temples in Singapore, dedicated to various gods and goddesses from the Hindu pantheon.
Where did most of the Chinese immigrants come from?
After immigrants from Mexico and India, the Chinese represented the third largest group in the U.S. foreign-born population of nearly 45 million in 2018.
When did Hinduism start in Singapore?
7th century AD
Hindu religion and culture in Singapore can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when Temasek was a trading post of Hindu-Buddhist Srivijaya empire.
Where is the Thian Hock Keng temple located?
The temple is located on Telok Ayer Street and originally faced the sea; the Telok Ayer Street used to be situated along the coastline before land reclamation work began in the 1880s.
Which is the oldest Hokkien temple in Singapore?
Thian Hock Keng is Singapore’s oldest Hokkien temple. Located at 158 Telok Ayer Street, it is recognised as the most majestic Chinese temple in Singapore. It was designed and built in 1842 by skilled craftsmen from China according to traditional Chinese temple architectural style. The temple is managed by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.
How much did Thian Hock Keng cost to build?
By 1838, Tan Tock Seng had purchased these lands from the owners, and together with 5 other land parcels purchased, he led the Chinese to build Thian Hock Keng. In 1839, construction of the temple started. More than 400 companies and individuals donated generously towards its construction at a cost of more than 37, 000 Spanish dollars.
Who was the main deity of Thian Hock Keng?
Mazu, the main deity of Thian Hock Keng was Hokkien shaman Lin Mo Niang 林默娘 who lived from 960 – 987 A.D. during the Song dynasty. Her gift in predicting weather and storms saved many seafarers’ lives. After her death, she was deified as the Chinese sea goddess Mazu.