Ti Kong Beo
Tian Gong Miao
Telok Blangah Road
25 Dec 05

Hi folks,
The greying cells are fading fast and I am already losing some of the valuable oral information received during our visit to Ti Kong Beo at Telok Blangah Rd. Will need Jave, Daniel and Jay to jot my memory. (^^)

Raymond, whom Jave knows, was in the temple when we arrived. And so, we have someone who knows the temple well to share with us more information and stories. Of course, for Jave, this temple is also not new to him, since his Grandma and family used to live in the vicinity. From the way he said, he must have loved and enjoyed his childhood. (^^) I am sure Grandma had certainly also prepared him well .. not just for the future but about remembering and understanding his heritage. (^^)

Wow, if we could put these two together, add more people and put all the information into a storage, this could be a stop for any local or foreign worshippers and tourists.

When we arrived, Raymond and his temple kaki were busy making silk screen prints of the flags of the temple. Making silk screen printing is not exactly easy, and when you consider the elaborate motifs, Chinese characters and the size, wow, it must be more than just interests to spend their free time doing this. (^^) And I thought to myself, aha, so, with the temple culture, we have art. Art and arts have played a major role in the temple activities. Have you ever visited a Chinese temple without seeing the beautiful Chinese characters on the signage above the door or the dui-lian on both sides of the doors? It is calligraphy and poem/prose. I was just discussing with CP about how we could try to understand the Dui-Lian and appreciate it. Maybe, someone can or someone who knows someone could introduce him/her to our list. (^^)

With Jave's initiative, I hope that given time, we could have a web-based forum where such experts or people interested in certain aspects of the Taoist heritage could lead a theme. (^^)

Despite his working on the silk screen printing, Raymond gave us a brief run of the temple. Wow, I must go back there a few more times to be able to identify all the Deities and know more about them.

Jave, I cannot remember how old this temple was, and where was its origin, perhaps, you could share with us? I know that his temple was set up by chye-kor (meaning ladies who are vegetarians?) And it seems that the Deities they worshipped were to be Guan Yin (probably different manifestations of Guan Yin and lady Deities) but for some reasons, the statues placed on the altar seemed to have physical problems. So, it was decided that above the Guan Yin and lady Deities, they would place Ti Kong (Tian Gong) there. Since then, the altar had been stablised. (^^)

Behind the elaborately carved main altar was another altar. Here, Raymond told us that the 9 statues were that of the 9 Emperor Gods. Wow! This could be the only temple with a complete 9 statues of the Emperor Gods! And they have been around for a long time. Jave, could you remember? (^^; This temple, although it marks the occasion of the 9 Emperor Gods' celebration on 1-9th of 9th Lunar Month, it does not organise activities unlike the other 9 Emperor God Temples. But it still has its fair share of devotees.

On the right of the main altar, as the Gods look outwards, is another interesting altar. It seems that there was this person who went all the way to Malaysia in search of this Deity, Nu Wa, but could not find a big statue of her. One day he popped into this temple and asked about her. And there she was a rather big statue, much to the delight of this person. And well, no one knew why he wanted to look for this Deity to pray to for. (^^) Anyone can share with us more story about Nu Wa?

Visiting a temple, one might not really appreciate all there is in the temple. (^^) For a devotee, it is the Gods. For some, it could be the serene atmosphere. For yet some, it could be history of the temple and yes, architecture as well. But ah, there's more stories and testimonies to collect too! So, knowing someone in the temple to share would be a delight, not just to learn but really to understand how the temple has evolved in the lives of many. (^^)

Raymond asked us if we know of a Deity very popular with the Hainanese, other than Mazu. (^^) Beats me. I only know about Mazu in the Hainanese Association at Beach Rd and another at the temple at Mariam Way (road entrance opposite to Changi Prison).

Apparently, this is the counterpart to Bao Gong, as I understand, but I may be wrong. His name is Hai Swee Gong in Hokkien/Hainanese? or Hai Rui Gong. Well, we will need more information about this Deity. (^^) I understand that he might be a very righteous magistrate in Hainan island. He is also known as Hai Qing Tian.

On the right, as we walked in, was another Deity with many red strings around his neck. Daniel wanted to know the signifance of the red strings. Ah, this is the God of Marriage. And so, if anyone has problems looking for a spouse, this could be one place. (^^)

There was actually another temple that, during the urban renewal, had borrowed a space in this temple. Now, I just cannot remember the name - really need Jave's input here. But since then, the temple had decided to stay there permanently, becoming part of the Ti Kong Beo.

On both sides of the temple are two rooms, which I learnt, used to house coffins for the chye-kor. It is typical of old Chinese people to prepare themselves for their departure. And I suppose, apart from the coffins - which at that time, being the typical big and heavy ones carved out of tree trunks and expensive - there could be many other things that they might considered such as the ceremonial dresses that a dead person is to wear before being placed into the coffin.

So, this is but the surface of the stories about this temple. I believe we can get more information on the history, the Deities and of course the stories of this temple and its devotees. (^^)


Victor
with Jave, Daniel and Jay
thanks to Raymond
Singapore

First reported: 1 Jan 06
Revised: 4 Jan 06 (ack: Jave Wu)

Hi Vic

Wow! That was a very detail account. Other than your camera, I did not see you holding any writing materials.

Simply good memories.

Cheers
Raymond