Thean Kong Thnuah Temple

Thean Kong Thnuah Temple or Jade Emperor God Temple (also known as Thni Kong Tnua, Chinese: 天公壇) is a Chinese temple located at the foot of Penang Hill in Air Itam, Penang. Completed in 1869, it is the only temple in Malaysia built specifically for the worship of the Jade Emperor (Hokkien: Thinn-kong)[1] and becomes a focal point for the annual Jade Emperor's Birthday celebrations on the 9th day of Chinese New Year.[2][3][4][5]

Thean Kong Thnuah Temple
Malay: Kuil Thean Kong Thnuah
Chinese: 天公壇
Front view of Thean Kong Thnuah Temple
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism, Taoism
DistrictNortheast Penang Island District
Location
LocationAir Itam, George Town
StatePenang
CountryMalaysia
Thean Kong Thnuah Temple is located in George Town
Thean Kong Thnuah Temple
Shown within George Town
Geographic coordinates5°24′35.442″N 100°16′36.665″E
Architecture
TypeChinese temple
Completed1869
Thean Kong Thnuah Temple
Traditional Chinese天公壇
Simplified Chinese天公坛

The temple was featured in Episode 8 of The Amazing Race 16.

History

The temple was built in the 1860s by members of the ethnic Chinese Hokkien community in Malaysia and underwent a restoration beginning in 2002.[2]

Features

The temple is located at the foot of Penang Hill and is surrounded by lush greenery. The path leading up to the temple features a flight of stairs with 110 granite steps and its archway is decorated with century-old stone carvings. The temple's architecture is a combination of both Buddhist and Taoist styles.[2] In the first shrine hall, there are three gold-plated Buddha statues while the Jade Emperor God sits in the main shrine hall.[2]

  • The temple compound.
    The temple compound.
  • The temple interior view.
    The temple interior view.

References
  1. Jean Elizabeth DeBernardi (2009). Penang: Rites of Belonging in a Malaysian Chinese Community. NUS Press. pp. 230–. ISBN 978-9971-69-416-6.
  2. Ong Yee Ting (17 October 2006). "Temple of Jade Emperor God". The Star. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  3. Crystal Chiam Shiying; Chong Kah Yuan (6 February 2017). "Hokkiens go all out to celebrate Jade Emperor God's birthday at jetty and temple". The Star. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  4. Opalyn Mok (22 February 2018). "Preparations underway for the grand celebration of the Jade Emperor's birthday". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  5. David ST Loh (16 February 2019). "Devotees turn eyes heavenward on 9th day of Lunar New Year". The Malaysian Insight. Retrieved 12 March 2019.


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