TUA PEK KONG TEMPLE
古晉大伯公廟
THE OLDEST CHINESE TEMPLE IN SARAWAK
HOME >
SARAWAK >
1ST DIVISION >
KUCHING CITY > RELIGION > TUA
PEK KONG TEMPLE of Kuching City 古晉大伯公廟
| CHINESE VERSION | ENGLISH VERSION |
TUA PEK KONG TEMPLE
古晉大伯公廟
THE OLDEST CHINESE TEMPLE IN SARAWAK
One of the oldest Chinese temple in Sarawak. The Temple's land title deed bears the date of 29 August 1871 issued by the 2nd Rajah. The Temple was believe started in the 1820s as a small wooden hut to shelter the stone curved divide status brought from China.
The main & only entrance to the temple, at the side.
Newly upgraded in 2010 main entrance of Tua Pek Kong temple.
The famous Chinese temple in town, Tua Pek Kong is setting up a cultural park by 2013.
Kuching Chinese Charitable Trust Board chairman Dr Chou Chii Ming.
The park would feature the rich culture of Sarawak as an attraction.
The park is at the back of the temple. There would also be stone carving inside the park
Besides the park, a car park was also constructed.
The upgrading project in 2010 cost about RM550,000 included the construction of a public toilet and covered walk path as well as upgrading of the main entrance and office building.
The temple attracted about 450,000 visitors every year.
Temple’s guardians of Tua Pek Kong Temple
古晉大伯公廟門神
The above Temple Guardians are only recent modern decoration added during the 2008 renovation works of the temple.
DEITY TUA PEK KONG
This temple is called SIEW SAN TENG TUA PEK KONG. The Host Deity is TUA PEK KONG.
TUA PEK KONG or Earth Deity refers to the same deity. The proper salutation for Earth Deity is "HOCK TECK CHENG SHIN". The Hockien and Teochew Chinese in South East Asia call "HOCK TECK CHENG SHIN1' as Earth Deity and his temple as HOCK TECK Temple while Hakka Chinese call him "PEK KONG" or "HOCK SHIN" and his temple as "TUA PEK KONG Temple" or "HOCK TEE" (land of prosperity). "HOCK TECK CHENG SHIN" or "TUA PEK KONG" originated from ancient China where the society at large was agrarian, dependent on farming. Ancient Chinese were thus inclined to worship the land, believing the Earth Deity was the protector of their crops and had been doing so for few thousand years. After they had personified the Earth Deity, a lot of folktales appeared. Such folktales were all related to the respect for some good government officers and kind hearted people after their demise. During YAW SOON Dynasty (2357 BC) and ZHOU Dynasty (1134 BC) Chinese people used "The Earth Deity" as symbol for worshipping excellent agricultural officers who had taught farmers good methods of cultivation while they were alive.
In China, Chinese regard Earth Deity as Deity in charge of earth and protector of good harvest who is also able to suppress evil spirits, to cure sickness and assist people to get rich.
Chinese people have a strong belief in Earth Deity. This strong belief later spread to the Chinese community in South East Asia.
The 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month is the official birthday of the Earth Deity while the 2nd day of the 8th lunar month is said to be the ascension day of the Earth Deity. But in South East Asia the devotees fix this ascension day on 15th of the 8th lunar month and regard it as another birthday of the Earth Deity.
A Brief History of This Temple
This temple is the oldest Tua Pek Kong' temple in Sarawak. It has been in existence on this site since 1770. According to record it was repaired in 1856. Another major repair was carried out in 1965.
The Kuching Chinese Community Charitable. Trust Board owns this temple and land. On 1st October 2003, the Board formally took over the full management of the temple. Hence forth, a major part of the annual operating surplus of the temple will be donated to finance the various social welfare projects and Chinese schools.
The host deity in this temple is TIOCK TECK CHENG SHIN' or TUA PEK KONG' His carrier the master tiger is placed under his altar. Bodhisattvas such as AVALOK1TESHVARA (GUAN YIN) - the compassion Bodhisativas & KSHITIGARBHA the consoler of the dead and protector of travelers, pilgrims and children are also worshipped in this temple.
Tua Pek Kong temple is a popular Chinese temples in Kuching.
Tua Pek Kong is one of the pantheon of Malaysian Chinese Gods. It was believed the date Tua Pek Kong arrived in Penang was 40 years before Francis Light in 1746.
Tua Pek Kong was a man named Zhang Li from the Hakka clan. His Sumatra-bound boat was struck by wind and accidentally landed on Penang island of Malaysia, which at that time had only 50 inhabitants. After his death, the local people began worshipping him and built the Tua Pek Kong temple there. Today Tua Pek Kong is worshipped by Malaysian Chinese throughout the country. – Wikipedia.org
| Lunar Month | Name of festival | Celebration |
| 2nd Day
of 2nd Moon |
Birthday
of TUA PEK KONG |
1) Grand offering
ceremony 2) Performance of Chinese opera at night for one week as from 2nd day of 2nd moon. |
| 15th Day of 2nd Moon | The birthday of the master tiger the carrier of Tua Pek Kong | Devotees before or on its birthday come to offer the master tiger with raw meat, eggs & fish etc |
|
30th Day of 7th Moon |
Appeasement offering to ghosts |
1) Grand
offering ceremony in front of the temple. 2) Devotees can take part in grabbing articles offered to ghosts placed on the high stand in front of temple |
| 15th
Day of 8th Moon |
Ascension
Day of TUA PEK KONG |
1) Grand offering
ceremony 2) Performance of Chinese opera at night for one week as from 15th day of 8th moon. |
RELATED TOPICS
|
|
Sarawak |
