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Image from Chinese Temple Architecture in Singapore, c. 1983.

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Thian Hock Keng Temple (1839-42 onward)

Thian Hock Keng, the "Temple of Heavenly Happiness" is the oldest Hokkien Chinese temple in Singapore. It was built from 1839-42 and dedicated to Ma Zu (Ma Cho Po, or Lin Mo), the Chinese goddess of the sea. Sailors would seek her advice before embarking on voyages because of the widely held belief that she could predict the weather.

The cult of Ma Zu supposedly began in the year 987 when the young Ma Zu died at the age of 27. Villagers on Meizhou Island heard beautiful music and saw a brilliant rainbow. After this, fishermen in danger would come home with tales describing how a young woman in red saved their lives at sea. After this, fishermen set up altars to Ma Zu and worshipped her image.

Thian Hock Keng was financed by the wealthy philanthropist Tan Tock Seng. Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dyansty presented in a wooden plaque in 1907 that can still be seen at the temple.

Tan Tock Seng. A timber calligraphy panel presented by Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty in 1907 can be found at the temple.

The street on which the temple sits, "Telok Ayer," means "Water Bay" in Malay, indicating that the temple once sat at the edge of the sea. Land reclamation has pushed it far inland.