Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur

The Thean Hou temple is a six-tiered Chinese temple. It is dedicated to Goddess Mazu, The Chinese sea goddess.

The temple, also known as the Temple of Goddess of Heaven is comparatively a new structure. It started its construction in 1980's by Malaysian Hainanese community and was completed in 1987. It was officially opened on 3rd September 1989.

Located on a hilltop, Southwest of Kuala Lumpur, it gives a spectacular view of the city.

Guan Yin at entrance

going up to the main altar

The shrine is on second floor so you need to climb the stairs

 shrine

Lanterns and light in front of the temple, make the temple look more beautiful.

The Hainanese were earlier fishermen, so naturally they built this temple to thank Mazu or Thean Hou.

The goddess Mazu protects the sailors and fishermen.

 

The top of roof has a flaming moon flanked by two dragons.  The temple ridge roof is decorated with dragon and dragon-phoenix and swallow-tail (on extreme left below).

Huge incense burner with dragons on sides is in front of shrine.

The temple is a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.

 

The pillars:

Four pillars stand outside the shrine. The pillars made from cement are 15 inches in height.

Dragons encircle the columns, soaring up

Temple guardians:

The entrance to shrine is guarded by two guardians--- Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong.

When King Taizong of Tang Dyanasty became the king, there were cries of ghosts outside his chamber. The two generals-- Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong volunteered to guard his chamber so that the King could sleep properly.

Soon, the King slept well and thinking not to disturb the generals again, he pasted their pictures at entrance to his chamber.

This became a practice and the generals were accepted as door deities.

Qin Shubao, on the right side of entrance

Yuchi Gong on the left of entrance

Prayer Hall:

The prayer hall has three altars. Each is dedicated to a different deity.

In the center is Mazu, Thean Hou Niang Niang, the Goddess of Sea. On the right is Shui Wei Sheng Niang, the Goddess of Waterfront. On the left is Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.

Thean Hou or Mazu or the Goddess of the Sea

 On looking carefully, one can see small Buddha images in small niches on the wall behind each image. The deity has been worshiped since a long time.

Shui Wei Sheng Niang, Goddess of the Waterfront

Shui Wei Sheng Niang is a Hainan goddess who is worshiped by people living close to waterfront. She is worshiped along with Mazu.

Guan Yin, Goddess of Mercy

 Guan Yin represents compassion or mercy. There is another image of Guan Yin at entrance near the water fall.

Kau Chim oracles

These are 78 fortune telling sticks where a person puts a question and the answers are interpreted from the flat sticks.

After donation money has put in donation box, the oracle sticks called "qian" are shuffled. The shuffled sticks are dropped back in the container.

The stick which sticks out the highest is picked up. Around the container of qian, are multiple drawers. The stick which was picked has a number and corresponding to that number, one finds the fortune written inside the drawer.

decorated doors and the walls with images of Buddha

Caisson ceiling:

In the center of Thean Hou hall, is an ornamental canopy. This type of decoration is called a caisson ceiling. It is an ancient complex decorative technique of Chinese architecture. They can be made in any shape: round, oval, square, rectangle.

In this temple, there is a round and a rectangle caisson ceiling.

round type of caisson ceiling

The diameter of the caisson is 18 feet.

 

In the center is a coiled dragon.

All rings outside the dragon ring have 24 lamps.

The subsequent 4 circles with lamp holders keep growing bigger and bigger. In all, there are 96 lotus lamps.

The last outermost circle has 24 archaic lions with one Mazu figure in between them.

In total there are 120 Mazu golden figurines in the round caisson ceiling.

rectangular caisson ceiling

Here, in center are five circles with a dragon and phoenix. The grid is made of 15 x 5 strips.

The sides have 16 archaic lions on one side and 6 lions on the width side. In between two lions is a lamp with one Mazu figurine.

On the side between the lions, are 18 Mazu figurines.

This way there are a total of 32 lamps and 50 Mazu figures in the rectangular caisson ceiling.

All the Mazu figurines are covered in pure gold foils.

 

tower on the side

The area after this was closed for renovation so we couldn't go beyond this. I desperately wanted to visit the area. But, maybe better luck next time.

zodiac signs on the roof

This is a religious place so proper attire is expected from visitors. The passage behind leads to registration of marriage.

Yue Lao

Yue Lao is the god of marriage. Chinese couples come to this place to pray and for getting their marriage registered.

I would have loved to spend more time here. There is so much to see and appreciate, but because of lack of time, we rushed out.