In the nation of Singapore the Chinese immigrants made one of the earliest settlers of the Country. Being an island, the only passage into this newfound nation was by sea and the journey was not always too pleasant. That is when the Thian Hock Temple came to life. A temple dedicated to the Chinese Goddess of the Sea Mazu, the Thian Hong Keng was the Chinese way of giving thanks for safe passage into the country and for hope that other fellow brothers were also given the same good fortune.
The Thian Hock Keng was erected in the year 1821 and stands as one of the oldest Chinese temples in Singapore. The temple exhibits traditional southern Chinese architecture with an array of cultural motifs that includes the dragons and phoenixes. The craftsmen had taken pains to bring the best of everything; from the timber to the tiles, all are the finest in China. The temple has an elaborate gateway with a raised step at the entrance. The architecture in itself is astounding as all the sculptures and columns were put to place without a single nail being used.
Thian Hock Keng is a mosaic of intricate carvings and luxurious ornamentation with each piece of work having its own significance behind it. The Temple also has two large courtyards one of which houses the shrine of the great Ma Cho Po. Two large Pagodas stand on either side of the temple, where one makes the shrine of Confucius and the other houses number of ancient tablets. The magnificence and history of the Thian Hock Keng gave this temple the national monument title in Singapore. Apart from its religious significance it also hosts an array of traditional functions such as the Chinese New Year celebrations, the Mid Autumn festival and a number of other cultural performances increasing the popularity of this destination among the tourists.
Singapore boasts plenty of other places with cultural and religious significance. Stay at the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Singapore and enjoy this city at your leisure. These Singapore hotels afford a perfect location and un-matched luxury making it those hotels in Singapore that enable you to thoroughly enjoy the surrounding city while coming home to sheer comfort.
