Nine Emperor Gods Festival

From first to the ninth day of the Ninth Lunar Month, Singapore comes alive with celebrations or commemoration in honour of the Nine Emperor Gods or Jiu Huang Ye (Kiu Ong Yah in Hokkien) all over the island. From East Coast at Ulu Siglap to Bukit Batok, some 12 temples/sintuas organise this massive events.

For some temples, they use the divining block (sheng bei) approach and so, they could be inviting the 9 Emperor Gods earlier than the eve of 9M1. This year, Feng Shan Gong is the earliest, inviting the 9 Emperor Gods on 21 Sep 08. Some temples like Long Nan Dian invited the 9 Emperor Gods on 27 Sep and the rest on 28 Sep.

Some of the 9 Emperor Gods temples/sintuas are:
神仙宫 Blk 39A Margaret Drive
武吉巴督斗母宫九皇五帝 Blk 503 Bukit Batok East Ave 2
后港斗母宫 779A Upper Serangoon Road
蔡厝港斗母宫　2 Teck Whye Lane
汫水港斗母宫凤山寺　Opp Blk 123 Yishun Ring Rd
金山寺　25 Jln Ulu Siglap
南山海庙　Blk 701 Bedok Reservoir Rd
玉海棠，观音堂　Blk 117 Bedok Reservoir Rd
葱茅圆九皇宫　28 Arumugan Rd
龙南殿　Next to Eunos MRT open space
凤山宫　49 Defu Lane 12
龍南寺--Blk 283 Bukit Batok Ave 3
玄武山  Blk 236 Jurong East St. 21
Here is a short video clip of Xuan Wu Shan temple visiting Long Nan Dian. In the next few days, there will be yewkeng (procession) as temple visit each other.

The second book on Chinese Temples launched

Shin Min Daily has launched the second book on Chinese Temples on 1 Feb 2007. In this second book, about 40 Chinese Temples were featured. The book, priced at S$5 each, is available at newstands and in major bookstores.

Book: Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual

This book: Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual: Tang-ki: Chinese Spirit Medium Worship by Margaret Chan is probably the first English edition book on Tang-ki worship in modern day Singapore. This book is also a Tangki Worship 101 for many who might have witnessed numerous such events in Singapore and yet have no idea on what they were all about.

This book is both for those "inside" and those "outside". Many Singaporeans probably have a hard time explaining to their foreign friends about this interesting and colourship worship. Tang-ki worship is also very much an oral tradition, where knowledge is passed down from grandparents to grandchildren, and much detailed information has been lost. So, this book is certainly timely, especially for present day kids and adults alike who are asking to understand and know more about what their grandparents and parents have been and are worshipping.

Certainly a good guide book for one to read before and after attending a temple event where there are tang-kis (spirit mediums). This book is now available in all major bookstores in Singapore.

Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual
Tang-ki: The Chinese Spirit Medium Worship
By Margaret Chan

Published by
Wee Kim Wee Centre
Singapore Management University
& SNP International

ISBN : 981-248-115-X
Bookshop Price: S$39.90

Kim Tong Hu 金洞府

Tucked away in this quiet lorong is a temple or sintua (Sheng Tan) named Kim Tong Hu 金洞府(Hokkien) or Jin Dong Fu in Mandarin. Except to the devotees of the temple, most Singaporeans might only get to know about this temple when it holds its celebrations twice a year at the Kallang Park, next to the McDonald's. This temple celebrates on 22nd of the Lunar New Year (First Month) in honour of Sian Chye Ya 善才童子 (Shan Cai Tong Zi) and on 15th of the 5th Lunar Month in honour of Kim Min Dai Lin 金面大人 (Jin Mian Da Ren).

This sintua is well known to sintua-observers for its big statues of the Deities. Put together, the number of Deities and the layout in the tentage, it could well be one of the most comprehensive temple of Deities.

This sintua started some 42 years ago, when the medium (known as tangki or kitong in Hokkien) was "chosen" to represent the Kim Min Dai Lin. He was only 18 years old then, and like many youngsters, he was attracted to the activities of the Kim Hong Beo (Jin Feng Miao) then. Kim Hong Beo was probably the main temple of that village by the name of Kim Hong Chun. The village was in what is now Lorong 3 of Geylang. At that time, when the mother of the medium of Kim Hong Beo came back from China with the "joss-fire", the medium representing Chi Min Dai Lin (Qing Mian Da Ren) said that Kim Min Dai Lin (a good friend of Chi Min Dai Lin, all being Ong-Yah) was looking for a medium to kiu-sei (to help the world). As as destined, despite so many people trying, he was the chosen one, and then, he was asked to join in for lack of people. (^^)

Now, Kim Hong Beo continues at Arumugam Road and Kim Tong Hu is at Lorong 40, Geylang.

Kim Tong Hu has a membership of devotees with many who speak English as well as Mandarin and Hokkien. The members are friendly and welcome any visitors. They even offer to explain to the visitors about the Deities of their temple. It is an educational experience for many.

It is said that the Kim Min Dai Lin does not come down often, only when there's serious matters to attend to or to "set-up" the tentage on the festival days. So, for routine consultations, these days, the responsibilities are delegated to Sian Chye Ya. On festive days, the medium also represents the Kim Ji Peh 金钱伯 (Jin Qian Bo), who is a very colourful and jovial Deity.

There is only one medium and he represents four Deities on different occasions. The robes of Sian Chye Ya are one of their kind in Singapore and probably the world. They are made painstakingly by the wife of the medium and are a work of art in themselves. Perhaps, they should be displayed with the Power Dressing. (^^)

Yi Lie Miao 义烈庙

Yi Lie Beo (in Hokkien) or Yi Lie Miao's 义烈庙 main Deity is Kor Ma Niu Niu (in Hokkien) or Gu Ma Niang Niang 姑妈娘娘 in Mandarin. The other Deity of this temple is Ji Guan Shuey or Er Lu Yuan Shuai 二路元帥.

After the second world war, the Lau (in Mandarin, Liu, 刘) clan brought the statue and "joss-fire" of Kor Ma over to Singapore. It was said that the first shrine or sintua was set up at a pre-war house (No.16?) at Craig Road until urban renewal caused it to move. After a few moves, it is now settled somewhere in Telok Blangah Crescent.

Kor Ma Niu Niu is the patron saint of the Lau Clan, probably from Hui An 惠安, Fujian, China. From a long time devotee of this temple, he said that Kor Ma Niu Niu was the patron saint in his village, known as Mung Bei or Feng Wei 蜂尾.

Each year, on the 17th of the 11th Lunar Month, this temple celebrates the birthday of Kor Ma Niu Niu.

Xuan Sheng Tan 玄圣坛

Xuan Sheng Tan is dedicated to the Monkey God. The medium, representing the Monkey God, is indeed a very charismatic one when in trance and well known to the sintua people. When he twirls his metal pole or walk, it is almost like what one sees in a Chinese Opera.

At its last celebration on the 10th of September (7th of 8th Chinese Lunar Calendar) - the Monkey God's birthday is 16th of the 8th Lunar Month - held at Bukit Purmei park, it was a grand affair with many new Lions (Lion Dance), Green Lions, Dragons and KongKuan (Chinese Drum, Gongs and Cymbal Troupe).

Shi Niu Dong 石牛洞

This Shi Niu Dong 石牛洞 temple started 17 years ago with its main Deities being Fa Zhu Gong San Gong San Sheng Jun 法主公三公三圣君　- Zhang Gong Sheng Jun 张公圣君 (black face), Xiao Gong Sheng Jun 萧公圣君 (green face), and Hong Gong Sheng Jun 洪公圣君 (red face). Zhang Gong Sheng Jun is also known to the Hokkien as Huat Chu Kong.

The 23rd of the 7th Chinese Lunar Month is the birthday of Huat Chu Kong.

There is another Deity in this temple, Bei Ji Fa Zhu 北極法主. This Deity has a horn on his forehead.

Ack: Shi Niu Dong temple
Tel: 6746 2726
Email: shiniudong@hotmail.com

Consultation Address: No.33 Geylang Lorong 24, Singapore 398633
Consultation Time: Every Friday 8.00pm onwards
Every Sunday 2.00pm onwards
Handphone: 9632 9902

Xuan Jiang Dian 玄江殿

Said to have started its sintua in Amoy St, this sintua moved with the family to Bukit Merah View. Now, it is placed in a quiet neighbourhood in Jalan Rama Rama, off Balestier Road. The sintua has just celebrated its 35th anniversary on the 3rd of the 9th Lunar Month, the birthday of Xuan Tian Shang Di　玄天上帝, popularly known to the Hokkien as Siong Te Kong.

In this celebration, the temple has consecrated five huge statues of the Deities, the biggest being that of Xuan Tian Shang Di, a very much revered Diety amongst the Chinese Taoist population in Singapore.

The medium of this temple normally go into trance representing Shan Cai Tong Zi　善才童子 (Sian Chye Ya in Hokkien), but occasionally Siong Te Gong might come.

Ming Feng Tan 鸣凤坛

Situated in the heartlands of Bukit Ho Swee, this Ming Feng Tan 鸣凤坛 sintua's main Deity is Kong Teck Choon Ong (Hokkien) [Guang Ze Zun Wang 广泽尊王] whose birthday falls on 22nd of the 2nd and 8th Lunar Month. There are also other Deities.

During festivities, which is normally held on the week of 22nd of 8th Lunar Month, the medium would go into trance, representing either the Tiong Tua Guan Shuay (Hokkien) [Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai 中坛元帥] or Tua Ya Peh (Da Ye Bo 大爷伯].

Sin Tua 神坛 in Singapore

This blog is dedicated to the "sintua"(in Hokkien)　神坛 in Singapore. For purpose of clarity, the "sintua" is defined here as one that does not have a proper temple building. It could be in an apartment or a terrace house. In most cases, such a "sintua" would have mediums.

Some "sintua" has been around for more than 3 decades. They are mainly handed down from one generation to another, and is normally family based.