Tian Hou Gong Temple

Tian Hou Gong Temple (Chinese: 天后宮; pinyin: Tiān Hòu Gōng; Hokkien, Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Thian Hō͘ Kiong) (also called as Tian Hou, Tien Hou Kong or Heavenly Empress Temple)[2] is a Chinese temple situated in Jalan Balik Bukit in the north of the Chinatown of Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.[3]

Tian Hou Gong Temple
Malay: Tokong Tian Hou Gong
Chinese: 天后宮
The entrance of the temple.
Religion
AffiliationTaoism
DistrictKuala Terengganu District
Location
LocationKuala Terengganu
StateTerengganu
CountryMalaysia
Geographic coordinates5°19′48.67″N 103°7′57.609″E
Architecture
TypeChinese temple
Date established1896[1]

History

The temple are established by early Hainanese settlers in a small structure to worship their sea deity of Shui Wei Sheng Niang which is said found in a junk which was shipwrecked in Terengganu.[4] Apart from another temple in the Chinese settlement, the temple served as a focal point for their fishermen and their families who lived along the banks of the Terengganu River.[1] It also become forerunner of the Hainanese Association (Qiongzhou Huiguan).[4] The temple building was then constructed in 1895 for both devotees and the association.[4] Most of its structure were constructed with materials brought in from China with the building are completed the following year.[1]

In 2003, the temple land was nearly acquire by the state government of Terengganu under the administration of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) for waterfront beautification project but was reversed following huge protest from the local residents.[5][6]

Features

The temple feature three altars in its main hall with two ancestral tablets dedicated to wandering souls and 108 brave villagers who lost their lives during a war since time immemorial.[1] The statues of Mazu and Shui Wei Sheng Niang occupies the central altar while in the right is devoted to Guan Yu and Fude Zhengshen.[1][6]

References
  1. Alan Teh Leam Seng (13 February 2019). "Cultural melting pot in Kampung Cina". New Straits Times. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  2. "Kampong China [China Town]" (PDF). Tourism Terengganu. p. 12, 13/52. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019. It is also home to two grand temple or toapekongs, the Ho Ann Kiong and the Tien Hou Kong.
  3. "ChinaTown". Tourism Terengganu. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  4. Chee-Beng Tan (11 February 2013). Routledge Handbook of the Chinese Diaspora. Routledge. pp. 420–. ISBN 978-1-136-23096-7.
  5. Chloe Ting (19 January 2009). "PAS once tried to seize Chinese temple". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  6. "Tian Hou Gong-Kampung Cina / 天后宮-唐人街". 72dragon. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
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