When visiting Singapore, you should not miss out on Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho 四马路观音庙. This temple on Waterloo Street is well-known for its divination predictions, which are said to be extremely reliable. In this article, we will reveal the mystery and history of this place, so check this out to get more interesting facts.
Everything About Kwan Im Temple 四马路观音庙
Check to the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple in the middle of Bugis to get a glimpse into the life of Singapore’s Chinese Buddhists and the significance religion plays in their daily routines. The whole thing about this temple will be interpreted in the following. It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Singapore. Based on the wall inscriptions, the temple’s founder was ‘Master Li Nan Shan’ (李南山上人), who hailed from Guangdong, China. In 1884 he received a piece of land from a firm known as ‘Chen Liang Cheng’ (陈两成商号), and built the temple between 1884 and 1886.
History and Architecture of Kwan Im Thong Temple
A traditional Chinese temple, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple (觀音堂佛祖廟) can be found at 178 Waterloo Street in Singapore. It is claimed that worshiping to the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin (also known as Avalokitevara), at this temple would bring its visitors good fortune. The temple gives to a wide variety of charities, including those working in health and education.
In its first form, the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple 四马路观音庙 was built in 1884. The temple was full of examples of traditional Buddhist art and Chinese temple building. To get inside, people had to cross a big porch and go through a porch and a closed anteroom.
During World War II, the temple was mostly undamaged by the Japanese bombardment of the surrounding region. However, it became a safe haven for the injured and destitute. Writing on the temple grounds say that this kind gift was made so that a temple could be built “to serve the good men and women.”
The current structure is the finished result of a reconstruction effort that began in 1982 and turned in the temple’s almost doubling in size; the project earned the temple a designation as a historic site from the National Heritage Board.
The large pagoda roofs and exquisite carvings of dragons, phoenixes, and water lilies on its colorful exterior are indicative of the Chinese temple architectural style, which was fashionable in the late 19th century.
There are two separate tops, and each one is a different height. A single large doorway was built to lead in, with two smaller ones on either side. Bright and beautiful shades of blue, green, red, and yellow were used to paint and decorate the gates. Curves on the roofs are thought to be good luck, and there are beautiful yellow Buddhist swastikas around the sides. Clay tiles used to cover the floor of the temple hall, but now granite tiles have been put down instead. One more thing about the new temple is that no candles or incense are burning in the hall. So that the soot doesn’t stain the roof, the urn for giving incense is put outside the temple hall.
The Gods worshiped at the Kwan Im Hood Cho temple 四马路观音庙
The worship of Cundi, a manifestation of Kuan Yin, is the primary activity of the temple. It is claimed that worshipers who pray to Kuan Yin, or Avalokitevara, the Goddess of Mercy, will be blessed with good fortune after leaving the temple. The temple has a significant place in the Buddhist community among Chinese Singaporeans.
Additionally, it venerates Damo and Hua Tuo. Behind Kuan Yin is also a statue of the Tathagata Buddha that was put there. In addition, the Four Heavenly Kings have taken their places atop the altar.
Here, we will interpret some interesting myths about Gods at Kwan Im Temple. Firstly, in the book “Xiang Shan Bao Juan” (香山宝卷), the legend of Guan Yin tells of an exceedingly compassionate Bodhisattva, often depicted as a female figure. Guan Yin is revered in Buddhism for her ability to observe and assist people in their suffering and difficulties. She is often depicted holding a vase of pure water and a lotus flower, symbolizing purity and compassion.
Secondly, Damo’s mythology is an essential aspect of Chinese Buddhism’s history. Damo, also known as Bodhidharma, was a 5th-century Indian sage who is said to have brought Zen Buddhism to China. Damo’s early reluctance and substantial contributions to the establishment of Zen meditation in China are recounted in this mythology.
In Buddhism, the story of Hua Tou is very old and well-known in Chinese Buddhism. A Buddhist monk named Hua Tou goes on a trip to find out what the mind is really like. Hua Tou meditated and thought for many years before he realized that our mind is timeless and can’t change.
In the landscape of traditional folk religion, a practice known as “cross-worshipping” has emerged between the followers of the Sri Krishnan Temple and the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple. This practice refers to the fact that many devotees of one temple also worship or pay their respects at the other temple. The fact that both temples follow polytheistic religions—Hinduism and the Chinese traditional religion—shows how this practice, which is a microcosm of Singapore’s multireligious culture, works. In the late 1980s, a vendor of Hainanese chicken rice gave the Sri Krishnan Temple a large urn worth about $1,000 so that Chinese devotees could store their joss sticks. The administrators of the Sri Krishnan temple decided to install a statue of Guanyin within the building, and they also set aside an area of the temple grounds where Chinese worshipers might light wooden sticks to pray.
Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple 四马路观音庙 Divination
Kwan Im Thong Temple is also known as Si Ma Lu Tang Temple. This place is famous for praying and Guan Yin lots. There are a lot of people who come to this place to do some divination and then show that their wishes have come true.
You put Qian (divining sticks), which are wooden sticks with writing on them, in a metal can and shake it. People think that the sticks that fall out can tell them about their future. The temple was the first in Singapore to offer divination slips with English readings to tourists and followers who spoke English as their first language in 1990.
The temple is open from 6 am to 6:30 pm every day. It will be very busy at the temple on Guanyin’s birthday, Enlightenment Day, Renouncing Day, and Hong Bao day, as well as on the first and fifteenth days of every Lunar month. The temple opens 1-2 hours earlier and closes 30 minutes later on these days. But the temple is most lively on the night before Chinese New Year when it’s open all night. Many people visit the temple daily, and the street in front of it is always full of worshipers ready to give incense to the goddess of mercy for a good start to the year.
Kwan Im Hood Cho Temple Charity
The temple is well-known for its charitable efforts and is a significant contributor to Singapore’s social, educational, and artistic sectors. In 2002, the patron was named Patron of the Arts for his contributions to the Singapore arts community.
Since 1997, the temple has provided financing for the Association of Women and for Action and Research (AWARE) campaign and services to assist fulfill the organization’s aim of reducing gender barriers in Singapore. In 1995, the temple was praised for reaching out to other ethnic groups by donating to the Singapore Indian Education Trust, a self-help organization that grants bursaries and scholarships to underprivileged Indian students.
The temple gave $5 million to the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Development Fund in 2016, which helps the school’s infrastructure and capacity development. The money was also utilized to purchase library materials and establish the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Student Relief Fund and Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Fellowship. NAFA has named its library the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Library in recognition.
The temple has also been a long-time supporter of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), having financed the establishment and operation of two dialysis centers. Furthermore, in 2000, it provided $15 million to the NKF’s free health screening program.
How to get to Kwan Im Temple 四马路观音庙 Bugis
Here are some helpful instructions that you should save for visiting Kwan Im temple. Usually we can get there by car, by motorbike and bus. Remember to take note the information below to get to this temple smoothly.
- Address: 178 Waterloo St, Bugis, Singapore 187964
- Open Hours: Daily 6:00am – 06:30pm (Special occasions will be longer)
- Admission Fee: Free
- Nearest MRT: DT14 Bugis
The way to Kwan Im temple is not difficult; follow our tips to get there
- By car
- Take Middle Road to Queen Street, then turn left into the open parking lot.
- Parking is also available in local retail complexes (Fortune Centre, The Bencoolen, Fu Lu Shou Complex, and Bugis+).
- Motorcycle
- Turn right on Middle Road to Queen Street, then left into the open parking lot.
- Alternatively, park on Queen Street (bike parking areas in front of Bugis+).
- Parking is also available in local retail complexes (Fu Lu Shou Complex, Burlington Sq, and Bugis Junction).
- Using Public Transportation
- Alight at Bus Stop 07517 (opposite Burlington Square) – Buses 64, 65, 131, 139, 147, 166, 857
- Arrive at Bus Stop 07518 (Fortune Ctr) – Bus Nos. 56, 980
- Alight at Bus Stop 07551 (Fu Lu Shou Cplx) – Buses 48, 57, 170, 851, 960, 980
- Alight at Bus Stop 01112 (opposite Bugis Junction) – Buses 7, 12, 63, 80, 175, 197, 851, 960, 980
- Bugis MRT Station (10 minutes walk, passing via Bugis Street)
Surrounding the temple, there are a lot of shops, and they are hustle and provide a lot of signature things in Singapore, that you should not miss when visiting Kwan Im.
One of the busiest places is Albert Street/Albert Mall. They were pedestrianized in 1992, along with Waterloo Street, to accommodate the huge number of visitors to this region, many of whom are devotees of either temple. Albert Mall has evolved into a real “Chinatown” experience, with frequent bazaars and spectacular decorations that continue for months during Chinese holidays such as the Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The well-known status of the Kwan Im Thong temple 四马路观音庙 has also benefited the neighboring business sector. Many stores on Waterloo Street cater to Buddhist believers, including those at Cheng Yan Court, The Bencoolen, Fu Lu Shou Complex, and Fortune Centre.
You also can’t overlook the cuisine on this street. Albert Centre Market and cuisine Centre is a great location to get affordable and tasty local cuisine. It draws both worshipers and merchants since it is located near the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple 四马路观音庙 and the Sri Krishnan Temple. For example, chicken rice, char kway tiao, hokkien mee, yong toufu, won ton noodle, fish soup, bak chor mee, muslim cuisine, indian food, desserts, and drink stalls (sugarcane, soyabean, glass jelly, on top of soft drinks and hot beverages) are typical foods found at hawker centers.
Tips for praying at Kwan Im Temple
The most exciting activity when coming to Kwan Im temple is praying and getting Guan Yin lots. We will show you how to get a Chinese fortune stick and what to prepare for your first time.
When praying, you should take 3 burning incense sticks, pray to Goddess of Mercy and place the incense sticks in the large censer. You also should buy some flowers or fruits to illustrate our loyalty. There are lot of shops outside the temple, so this is so easy and convenient.
Each kinds of fruits and flowers is also meaningful. For instance, Apple – peace, Oranges – good fortune, Pomegranates – fertility, Peaches – longevity, Grapes – used when praying for children of a family, Melons – a symbol of family unity, Pomelo – pray to have a son, Lotus – symbolize purity (Kwan Im sits on a pink lotus).
Kwan Im Temple is well known for its sacred fortune sticks. Therefore, many people come to get advice and pray to Guan Yin through this method. So what do you need to do?
Devotees first prostrate themselves before the Kwan Im and pray before using the Chinese Fortune Sticks. After that, they give a cylinder that contains the fortune sticks a shake until one of the sticks falls out. If more than one comes out at once, the individual will put the container aside and shake the sticks once again until just one of the sticks emerges from the container. In the time that they spend shaking the container, devotees should be praying and concentrating on getting a solution to a particular topic or problem.
The numbered piece of paper on the board is then matched up with the corresponding number on the stick. If the information that is written on the piece of paper is not specific enough, you might consult a fortune teller to help you read it. We also have a better way for you, which is to search online and check our Guan Yin Lots articles online.
We hope this article will help you know more about Kwan Im Temple 四马路观音庙 and be useful for your trip when visiting here.
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