This Lunar New Year is a time of family reunion and festive cheer celebrated by Chinese and other Asian communities. Other than celebrating with family and friends, many Chinese also make it a point to visit temples during CNY (Chinese New Year), arguably the most important traditional festival and holiday for the Chinese.
Let take a quick peek thru two temples that I attended a preview on the 5th January 2023 in the morning.
Poh Chung Tian Chor Sian Tong (普忠殿助善堂) and its rich history.
A quaint temple is nestled and dwarfed by public housing estates that no one noticed where it comes from in the first place! Not far from the main busy road that hardly seen by the public.
It is located at 201 Toa Payoh Lor 6 and has something extraordinary history and its roots to be retold.
The temple has a long history of over 100 years old which originated from Nankin Street, a place was once a coolie-keng on those days if I could recall.
The temple is also called Poh Tiong Beo (Pu Zhong Miao) 普忠庙 by old folks who were once lived in that area.
A plaque on the temple stairs in front, indicated in year 2005 was built.
They should have face each other and not placed them back to back, considered it to be bad luck.
The main deity of the Poh Chung Tian Chor Sian Tong Temple is Dai Song Sam Tiong Ong 大宋三忠王 (San Zhong Wang), thus referring to the three faithful officials Wen Tian Xiang, Lu Xiu Fu and Zhang Shi Jie, who lived during Southern Song Dynasty.
Some of the photos taken during preview (5th Jan 2023) as below
A symbol of taoism is embedded on the ground between the two ancient horses, is called Tai Ji signifying the Supreme Ultimate. It represents the opposing energy forces, Yin (negative) and Yang (positive), darkness and light respectively, that complement and counterbalance each other to attain the true harmony and final unity, the TAO
Toa Payoh Seu Teck Sean Tong (大芭窑修德善堂)
One of the many temples build in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore to commemorate Song Da Feng 宋大峰 (b. 1039) during Song Dynasty of China.
The Toa Payoh Seu Teck Sean Tong Temple had its humble beginnings in an attap-roofed hut in the then Boon Teck road (Hup Choon Hng). Established in 1942, the temple is part of the shan tang (charitable and religious institutions prominent in Southern China in the 17th century) network.
As part of shan tang (善堂) tradition, an altar dedicated to Reverend Song Dafeng (宋大峰) was blessed in Singapore’s first shan tang, the Seu Teck Sean Tong Yian Sin Sia (founded in 1916), before being installed in presently Toa Payoh temple.
After the Japanese Occupation, a purpose-built temple on the site of its current location was completed in 1959. Besides its religious function, the Seu Teck Sean Tong Temple also carries out activities in accordance with the shan tang mission.
Brief history of Shantang (善堂) and Song Dafeng (宋大峰)
Teochew Shantang (善堂) is a type of charitable organization with a religious component. The first shantang was built in Heping, Chaoyang (广东潮阳和平), in honour of Buddhist monk Song Dafeng (宋大峰), which is also the town that he was buried. Song Dafeng was born in AD1039 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang (浙江温州), and was appointed as magistrate of Shaoxing, Zhejiang after passing his imperial examinations. But he was disappointed with the corruption and inefficiency of the system and so he quit his job to do charitable works, mostly in Fujian and Chaoshan. After spending several years in Fujian he moved on to He Ping Village in Chaoyang, Guangdong, where he continued his good works, and his most significant project was to build He Ping Bridge (和平桥 Bridge of Peace) for the ease of travelling across the river and served as an alternative to boats.
Ancentral Tablets Hall
Ancestral Tablets - The “Xiu De Tang” (修德堂) Ancestral Hall is located in the second section of the Temple, directly behind the Main Prayer Hall. It is a two storey building housing ancestral tablets in multi-tier sections.
My late grandparents and their family, their urns that are placed in the niches, still keep in this hall about 3 or 4 decades ago till present except my late grandma's grave (buried in 1999 at CCK cemetary) was exhumed a few years ago and moved in and her niche was reserved a long time ago.
The “Gui De Lou” 歸 德 樓 Columbarium Hall is located at the third section of the Temple, directly behind the Ancestral Hall. It is a five-storey building. This building offers members of the Temple the facility to house the ashes in honour of their forebears and relatives. It is a traditional way for the living to perpetuate the memory of their beloved ancestors and relatives.
Pictures Of 24 Filial Piety Stories at the top level is seen as above picture.
Seu Teck Sean Tong was a Chinese clan charitable institution that provided free Traditional Chinese Medical services to the public irrespective of religion and creed at no charge, thus benefited to many and the name of the 'Sean Tong' became well known to the people . The organisation established multiple branches over the years.
In 1967, Seu Teck Sean Tong opened its medical department offering free medical services to the public.
Currently, the temple also houses a kidney dialysis unit. Toa Payoh Seu Teck Sean Tong was one of the Blue Cross Charitable Institutions, to help the war victims in the past.
Some photos taken during preview on 5th Jan 23 as below:
The Reverend 'Song Dafeng' occupies the central position on the altar in the main prayer hall. It is understood that Song Da-Feng’s birthday falls on the 29th day of the tenth lunar month and a one day prayer ceremony to celebrate the occasion will be held in this temple’s premises.
The bluestone slab reliefs and inscriptions on the stone walls on both sides of the archway, telling the story of Song Dafeng's birth. Family deeds and the spirit of helping those in need.
TCM Clinic established in 1967, provided by the Shan Tang the internal medicine and acupuncture services are completely free.
Other photos as below
Join us as we explore local temples during the CNY period to have a peek at how they and their devotees celebrate the New Year. We will have the opportunity to hear from temple reps who will enlighten us on customs associates with specific temples and dialect groups.
Touring Temples: Lunar New Year and Temple Traditions
Date: 28 & 29 January 2023, 4 & 5 February 2023
Time: 10am – 12.30pm
Admission: $20.00 per pax; purchase tickets via Peatix from 6 January 2023 onwards.
Meeting Point: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore Singapore
Tickets are available for sale on 6 Jan 2023 onwards 门票于2023年1月6日发售。
Parts of the tour will be conducted in English and Mandarin vice versa.
Lists of Temple Tours as below:
For each tour and date, members of the public can choose to visit to two different temples that they wish to visit.
- 28 Jan – Sar Kong Mun San Fook Tuck Chee (沙冈万山福德祠) & Thian Hock Keng (天福宫)
- 29 Jan – Qi Tian Gong (齐天宫) & Thian Hock Keng (天福宫)
- 4 Feb – Poh Chung Tian Chor Sian Tong (普忠殿助善堂) & Toa Payoh Seu Teck Sean Tong (大芭窑修德善堂)
- 5 February – Hong San See (凤山寺) & Sar Kong Mun San Fook Tuck Chee (沙冈万山福德祠)
Kindly arrive at the meeting point (Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall) 15 minutes before the programme commences for registration.
Walk-ins will not be accepted.
Each ticket admits one participant only.
Transport will be provided from the meeting point to the temples. Please note that there will be no transportation back to the starting point after the tour ends.
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