Thian Hock Keng Temple

Next Stop Thiam Hock Keng Temple

Continue along Telok Ayer Street and you will see an elegant looking Thian Hock Keng Temple, also known as the Temple of Heavenly Happiness. It was built in 1840, making it the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore and the most important for Hokkien worshippers. Furthermore, it was notorious for the slave trade reputed to be carried out here in 1850s. The temple was then announced as a national monument on 28th June 1973.

Upon completion of the Thian Hock Keng Temple, southbound immigrants who had just landed or northbound immigrants heading back to China would visit the temple to offer thanks or pray for calm waves and a safe journey to Ma Cho (also known as Ma Zu Po, the Taoist Goddess of the Seafarers. A statue of the Goddess, imported from China in 1840, can still be seen in the Main Hall. Moreover, the temple also signified the transformation of an immigrant society to one that planted its roots.

 A Malacca-born philanthropist called Tan Tock Seng came out most of the finance needed for the construction of the temple at a cost of Spanish $30,000. Built between 1839 and 1842 materials used were mostly imported from China. In addition, the temple's layout follows the traditional pattern for temple and palace design in China, such as exposed beams and cantilevered brackets are richly carved with heroes at war, sages, saints, patterns of flowers and animals, all enhanced by red and gold lacquer gilded in gold. The roof of the temple is also made up of curved ridges, elongated eaves with upturned southern Fujian "swallow tails" end sweeps and generous ornamentation. Stone lion can also be seen at the doorway of the temple as it is believed to 'guard' the doorway and will ward off  evil spirits as lion represent strength.

The craftsmanship is magnificient, with beautifully decorated for each details (reputed parts of ships that brought immigrants to the island) and also remarkable structural elements, such as the columns which have been carved into entwined dragons from solid blocks of granite. The cast-iron railings came from Glasgow, and the decorative tiles from Delft in the Netherlands. 

During the Qing Dynasty, in the year 1907, Emperor Guang Xu grant a scroll to the temple which has hung over the temple's main altar signboard until the year 1998 where renovations in the temple begun. Thus, the scroll was then donated to the Singapore History Museum (National Museum).

Today, Thian Hock Keng comprises of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Other than the main deity, Goddess of the Seas, there are other deities which include Goddess of Mercy and Confucius. It has constantly attract people from all walks of life especially during the birthday celebrations of deities.