The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple () (also called as the Temple of Green Cloud)
is a
Chinese temple practising the
Three Doctrinal Systems of
Buddhism,
Confucianism and
Taoism located at No. 25 Jalan Tokong,
Malacca City,
Malaysia. It is the oldest functioning temple in the country.
History
The temple site was founded during the era of
Dutch Malacca by the
Chinese Kapitans Tay Kie Ki Tay Hong Yong in 1645.
Additional structures were then constructed in 1673 under the leadership of Kapitan Li Wei King Koon Chang with materials imported from
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. The temple served as the main
place of worship
A place of worship is a specially designed structure or space where individuals or a group of people such as a congregation come to perform acts of devotion, veneration, or religious study. A building constructed or used for this purpose is somet ...
for the local
Hoklo
The Hoklo people or Hokkien people () are a Han Chinese (also Han Taiwanese) subgroup who speak Hokkien, a Southern Min language, or trace their ancestry to Southeastern Fujian, China and known by various endonyms or other related terms such a ...
(Hokkien) community. Kapitan Chan Ki Lock constructed a main hall for the temple in 1704. In 1801, the temple structures were renovated under the leadership of Kapitan Chua Su Cheong Tok Ping who was the father of
Choa Chong Long
Choa Chong Long (; 1788-1838) was a Chinese prominent magnate, revenue farmer and pioneering colonist who served as the first Kapitan Cina of Singapore under the British colonial government.
He was the son of Choa Su Cheong, who was the ''Kapi ...
, the first Kapitan of Singapore, with the addition of additional structures.
In 1962, then
abbot Seck Kim Seng ordained
Houn Jiyu-Kennett, a
Zen nun from
England and the future founder of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, at this temple. The temple was awarded a
UNESCO award for outstanding architectural restoration in 2003.
Features
The temple is situated close to Jalan Tukang Emas, also known as "Harmony Street" because of its proximity to the
Kampung Kling Mosque
Kampong Kling Mosque (sometimes also spelt ''Kampong Keling Mosque''; ms, Masjid Kampung Kling; Jawi: مسجد كامڤوڠ كليڠ) is an old mosque in Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia. It is situated at Jalan Tukang Emas (Goldsmith Stree ...
and
Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple
Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple is the oldest existing/intact Hindu temple in Malaysia and one of the oldest functioning Hindu temples in Maritime Southeast Asia. Located in the state of Malacca, the temple is one of the few existing Chitty temples ...
, covering an area of 4,600 m
2.
Featuring a magnificent main gate along Jalan Tokong, the temple consists of a complex of several prayer halls with a large main prayer hall dedicated to the goddess of mercy,
Guan Yin
Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She w ...
.
Additional smaller prayer quarters were added later. One of these is dedicated to the Chinese deities of wealth, longevity and propagation, while another dedicated to
ancestral tablets
A spirit tablet, memorial tablet, or ancestral tablet, is a placard used to designate the seat of a deity or past ancestor as well as to enclose it. The name of the deity or past ancestor is usually inscribed onto the tablet. With origins in tr ...
. One of the main features of the temple is the seven-metre red flag-pole facing the left wing of the main prayer hall, which houses the remains of two of the three Kapitans who contributed to the construction of the temple.
Across the road is a traditional opera theatre which forms a part of the temple complex. The building conforms to the principles of ''
feng shui'' where the complex is laid out to ensure a view of the river and high ground on either side.
See also
*
Poh San Teng Temple
*
Xiang Lin Si Temple
zh, 香林寺
, image = Melaka C - Xiang Lin Si temple 2016.jpg
, caption =
, location = Malacca City
, coordinates =
, religious_affiliation = Buddhism
, district =
, st ...
*
List of tourist attractions in Malacca
References
External links
*
*
{{Malaysian historical architectures and sites
1645 establishments in the Dutch Empire
Chinese-Malaysian culture
Buddhist temples in Malaysia
Confucian temples in Malaysia
Taoist temples in Malaysia
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1645
Tourist attractions in Malacca
Buildings and structures in Malacca City
Guanyin temples
17th-century Buddhist temples
17th-century Taoist temples
17th-century Confucian temples