Singapore was made a trading port by the British in 1819. Chinese immigrants arriving here crossed the ferocious South China Sea. They built a “joss house” in1821-1822 to pray to the goddess in gratitude for their safety.
On this very site, the Thian Hock Keng Temple was built during 1839-1842. The expense of $30,000 incurred for its construction, was met through donations from devotees, and the Fukien philanthropist Tan Tock Seng. The temple also served as a school and community center. The statue of Ma Cho Po from China was ceremoniously installed in the main prayer hall.
The temple was constructed out of the finest materials by the best craftsmen from China who innovatively used old timber, tiles and stone columns retrieved from Chinese junk, and transformed broken pieces of crockery and cutlery from ships into mosaic flower petals, dragon scales and bird feathers on the temple roof. The finest gift to the temple was the calligraphic panel from Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty of China, in 1907.
On 6th July 1973, the Thian Hock Keng Temple was declared a national monument.
The temple is built in the architectural style of southern China, with a grand entrance, a high step in front, side entrance gates adorned with brightly colored tiles depicting roses, peacocks and the Buddhist Swastika in green and brown, the symbol of good luck and immortality.
The doors of the temple are guarded by tigers, lions and door gods, in typical Taoist style.
They open into two courtyards, one housing the main temple with the statue of Ma Cho Po. Pagodas adorn the two sides of the temple, the left having a shrine of Confucius, and the right has ancestral tablets of immigrants who initiated the temple.
Singapore has a richly diverse culture, which you can experience hands-on when you visit the city. No matter when you plan to go, remember to make your Singapore hotel reservation in advance. Don't wait for the last minute to book your Singapore hotel.