Taoist Medicine and Healing Lecture by Master Chang Yi Hsiang

If you are curious about Taoist medicine and healing, this is one not-to-be-missed lecture series by the world renown Master Chang Yi Hsiang, who hails from Hawaii, USA.

30 Nov to 2 Dec, 5 - 7 Dec, 7.30pm to 10.30pm
Taoist College (at San Qing Gong) at Bedok North Ave 4
Fee S$30 per person

Hurry, limited seats!

36. Poh Tiong Beo 普忠庙 (Pu Zhong Miao)

Poh Tiong Beo 普忠庙, currently located at Lorong 6, Toa Payoh (near to the Kim Keat Link and Shuang Lin Si), has a long history in Singapore. Tracing to its origin, it is said to have started as a shrine in a coolie-keng (coolie den) at 8 Nanking St in the 1930s. It could be earlier. Research is still being done to trace its origin. In the front part of the second storey of 8 Nanking St was the altar of San Zhong Wang 三忠王 (Sam Tiong Ong in Hokkien). It was known as Poh Tiong Dian 普忠殿 (Pu Zhong Dian). Most of the coolies and members of this shrine/sintua came from Dang Wua 同安 (Tong An), now within the precinct of Xiamen , Fujian, China.

In the 1960s, a group of the members of this sintua, who have become businessmen, foresaw the need to build another temple in anticipation of rapid urban renewal in Singapore. They built the Poh Tiong Keng 普忠宫 (Pu Zhong Gong) in Toa Payoh (across the road from where the current temple is). Alas, the ground was too low and during rainy seasons, the surrounding would be flooded.

Hence another move was inevitable. The new temple, now called Poh Tiong Beo普忠庙 , was built at the current place. In the 90s, urban renewal had caught up at Nankin St. It was time to move and so the Poh Tiong Dian moved to Poh Tiong Beo.

This temple's resident Deity is one of the three officials of the Song Dynasty, Zhang Shi Jie. The three officials of the Song Dynasty - Wen Tian Xiang 文天祥, Zhang Shi Jie 張世傑, and Lu Xiu Fu  陆秀夫- were known for their righteousness and strong loyalty to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. All three died defending the Emperor. Wen Tian Xiang was executed by the Mongols in Beijing, Zheng Shi Jie drowned fighting the Mongols - and it is said that his body was found in a village in Tong An (hence, he was the patron Deity of this village), and Lu Xiu Fu committed suicide with the young Emperor rather than being captured by the Mongols.

There is another temple in Singapore that is related to this temple. This temple, Shui Xian Gong at Zion Rd, worships Wen Tian Xiang. When the businessmen went to Malacca to expand their business, they wanted to invite one of the San Zhong Wang to Malacca. Using the divining blocks (Sheng Bei), they sought the three Deities. Apparently, it was Lu Xiu Fu who agreed to go to Malacca. "With the financial assistance from Poh Tiong Beo & Religion Knowledge from Shui Xian Gong" the temple was built." So today, the three temples, each housing one of the three officials, form the complete trinity.

With San Zhong Wan, there are two more Deities associated. One is Por Am Pu Chor (Pu An Fo Zu) who, according to the spirit medium in Tong An Village, offered to be the mentor of San Zhong Wang. And so, in the San Zhong Wang temples you will find Por Am Pu Chor. Another Deity associated with Poh Tiong Beo is Koo Ong Ya (Qiu Fu Wang Ye). In Tong An Village, one can find three temples, housing Por Am Pu Chor, Koo Ong Ya, and San Tiong Ong, within the same vicinity.

The temple celebrates in honour of Sam Tiong Ong on 16th Day of the 9th Luna Month (9M16).

The Temple address: 201 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 Singapore 319385 Tel: 63561207

35. Chee Tong Temple 慈忠坛 (Ci Zhong Tan)

Located in the HDB estate at 62 Hougang Ave 3 (near to blk.248), this is probably the only most contemporary Chinese temple in Singapore. A temple dedicated to the three main deities - Huang Lao Xian Shi 黄老仙师, Da Sheng Fo Zu 大圣佛祖 and Tai Shang Lao Jun 太上老君, it was built in 1987, designed by the team of Akitectenggara - Mr. Tay Kheng Soon, Mr.Ho Kwon Cjan and Mr. Patrick Chia.

It was designed in close consultation with one of the Deities of the temple, through his medium in trance (according to this document at Archnet. At every stage of the designed, the medium in trance was consulted, through an interpreter.

This temple still has consultation services every Tuesday and Saturday evenings from 8pm. I understand that the Deity giving consultation is Huang Lao Xian Shi.

Some information about the temple events:

Da Sheng Fo Zu:  8M16 (16th of 8th lunar month)

Tai Shang Lao Jun: 7M01

Huang Lao Xian Shi: 6M06

Anniversary celebrations:

Chee Tong Temple (Ci Zhong Tan): 4M18

China Temple (Sichuan) : 9M18

Quarterly Blessings:

1st Day, Chinese New Year

1st Day 4th Lunar Month

1st Day 7th Lunar Month

1st Day 10th Lunar Month

The Address:

Singapore Chee Tong Temple

62 Hougang Ave 3

Singapore 538844

Tel: 62833867

34. Xing An Tian Hou Gong 兴安天后宫

About Xing An Tian Hou Gong 兴安天后宫

The origin of Xing An Tian Hou Gong is still unknown due to the lack of relevant sources. It was believed to be established around the 1920s. Pilgrims and worshippers from the Mazu temple in Meizhou brought the worshipping culture to Singapore where people could pray at 133 Queen Street. This became a site of spiritual support and activity for early Putian immigrants.

Since the 1940s, the Putian (Henghua) people had been organizing activities during the Seventh Lunar Month (公建普度,中元节) in memory of their ancestors and to engage in expiatory purification of the spirits.

In 1957, the Henghua community established the Nanyang Putian Huiguan (南洋莆田会馆) and its first chairman was the late Mr. Su Zhi Xuan (苏志宣).

In 1972, being part of the city reconstruction scheme, Xing An Tian Hou Gong and the Nanyang Putian Huigian moved out of Queen Street to 16 Madras Road. The “Puxian amateur troupe” (莆仙业余剧团), a collaboration between Sin Hoe Ping and the then Xin De Yue troupe (“新和平”与“新得月”戏班) was formed in 1974 and performed during the celebration of Goddess Mazu’s birthday in 1975. It gained much support from the community and other Putian-affiliated temples also invited the troupe to perform with which they could stage more than 60 performances annually during the peak period. Unfortunately, after having performed for 10 over years, the troupe had to be dissolved because there were no new performers to take over the old and retiring performers.

In 1987, the site at Madras Street was requisitioned and the executive board of the temple and huiguan decided to purchase its new site at Geylang Lorong 3. After renovation works were completed in 1991, the temple and huiguan moved into the new building where it still stands today (see picture below).

(Source: Putian Association Singapore 50th Year Anniversary Complementary Magazine in Chinese)

A glimpse at the interior of Xing An Tian Hou Gong where Goddess Mazu is at the center of the main altar

33. Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple 安济圣王庙

Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple 安济圣王庙  (dedicated to Lord Green Dragon 安济圣王or 请龙爷) is located at 131 West Coast Drive. It's original location was in Pasir Panjang.

From the plaque on the wall of the temple, is the history of Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple

Wang Kang was a high-ranking official of the kingdom of Shu Han - one of the three kingdoms in Chinese history. Being an upright and honest official, he was deeply respected by the people. He was given the title of An Ji Shen Wang (Ang Chee Sia Ong) after his death and a temple was built to honour him. Green snakes were often spotted at the temple and when the people of Chao Shan saw one at the battlefield, they would invariably emerge victorious. They believed that the green snake was the transformation of Ang Chee Sia Ong, whose spirit provided a protection of them against disasters. Hence Ang Chee Sia Ong was also known as Sacred Lord Green Dragon (Qing Long Shen Wang) and the temple, Qing Long Gu Miao. 

In the Ming dynasty, there was a drought in Yong Chang, Yunnan province. The official then, Xie Shaochang took it upon himself to open the official granary before writing to the imperial court. Obtaining approval for ration from the emperor would mean a delay, leading to starvation and death for the residents. However, he was sentenced to death for this. As such, he was hung up in a tree in a mountain for three days and would be released if, by a miracle, he survived. One day, a figure appeared in the sky and spread a large black cloth which subsequently turned into a huge patch of dark cloud, shielding Xie from sun and wind. Xie survived and was released. Praying at the An Ji Shen Wang Temple in gratitude, he realized that Wang Kang’s statue bore a resemblance to his mysterious Savior. After that, he started burning incense and praying to the god day and night. Also, he brought the statue of An Ji Shen Wang along with him upon his return to Chaozhou and built a temple in his honour. The number of worshippers grew and they moved the statue to a bigger temple at the south bank of Hanjiang later and named it Qing Long Gu Miao.

In the Qing dynasty, Emperor Kang Xi sent his younger brother to Chaozhou, to build battleships for the conquest of Taiwan Island. Seeking divine prediction from the lord in the Qing Long Gu Miao, the divine sticks turned up negative for three times, hinting at failure. Indeed, the Qing court suffered great losses later on. When questioned, the brother revealed his encounter at the temple, upon which the emperor sensed a great mystical power of prediction of An Ji Shen Wang. In respect of him, Kang Xi ordered an Inspiration Tablet made and placed inside the temple to honour the lord. From then on the fame of the temple spread even wider and its story became known to one and all.

More details on the history of the temple could be read from its website.

There is a bridge that links the temple across a canal to the housing estate. If you step on the right step, the two dragons will give you a shower of blessings. There is also a dragon sprouting out water that you could bring home with the bottles provided in the temple.

33. Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple 安济圣王庙

Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple 安济圣王庙 An Ji Sheng Wang Miao  (a temple dedicated to Lord Green Dragon  安济圣王 or 请龙爷 ) is located at 131 West Coast Drive stands. It's original location was in Pasir Panjang.

From the plaque on the wall of the temple, is the history of Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple

Wang Kang was a high-ranking official of the kingdom of Shu Han - one of the three kingdoms in Chinese history. Being an upright and honest official, he was deeply respected by the people. He was given the title of An Ji Shen Wang (Ang Chee Sia Ong) after his death and a temple was built to honour him. Green snakes were often spotted at the temple and when the people of Chao Shan saw one at the battlefield, they would invariably emerge victorious. They believed that the green snake was the transformation of Ang Chee Sia Ong, whose spirit provided a protection of them against disasters. Hence Ang Chee Sia Ong was also known as Sacred Lord Green Dragon (Qing Long Shen Wang) and the temple, Qing Long Gu Miao. 

In the Ming dynasty, there was a drought in Yong Chang, Yunnan province. The official then, Xie Shaochang took it upon himself to open the official granary before writing to the imperial court. Obtaining approval for ration from the emperor would mean a delay, leading to starvation and death for the residents. However, he was sentenced to death for this. As such, he was hung up in a tree in a mountain for three days and would be released if, by a miracle, he survived. One day, a figure appeared in the sky and spread a large black cloth which subsequently turned into a huge patch of dark cloud, shielding Xie from sun and wind. Xie survived and was released. Praying at the An Ji Shen Wang Temple in gratitude, he realized that Wang Kang’s statue bore a resemblance to his mysterious Savior. After that, he started burning incense and praying to the god day and night. Also, he brought the statue of An Ji Shen Wang along with him upon his return to Chaozhou and built a temple in his honour. The number of worshippers grew and they moved the statue to a bigger temple at the south bank of Hanjiang later and named it Qing Long Gu Miao.

In the Qing dynasty, Emperor Kang Xi sent his younger brother to Chaozhou, to build battleships for the conquest of Taiwan Island. Seeking divine prediction from the lord in the Qing Long Gu Miao, the divine sticks turned up negative for three times, hinting at failure. Indeed, the Qing court suffered great losses later on. When questioned, the brother revealed his encounter at the temple, upon which the emperor sensed a great mystical power of prediction of An Ji Shen Wang. In respect of him, Kang Xi ordered an Inspiration Tablet made and placed inside the temple to honour the lord. From then on the fame of the temple spread even wider and its story became known to one and all.

More details on the history of the temple could be read from its website.

There is a bridge that links the temple across a canal to the housing estate. If you step on the right step, the two dragons will give you a shower of blessings. There is also a dragon sprouting out water that you could bring home with the bottles provided in the temple.

The celebration of the temple in honour of Ang Chee Sia Ong is 5M05 (5th day of the 5th Lunar Month)