What You Don't Know About China Town - The Chan See Shu Yuen Temple

Foreword

Hi, & # 39; Lei Hou & # 39; -that & # 39; s & # 39; hi & # 39; in Cantonese which is one of the most spoken Chinese dialects in Malaysia.

Chan See Shu Yuen Temple was built over a century ago. The four founders of the temple, Chang Sou Lin, Chang Sing Shi, Chang Chun, and Chang Tsai Tian were also the first pioneers in Kuala Lumpur. Did you notice that they all have the same surname Chang?

The Chan See Shu Yuen Clan Association is an association of & # 39; Chan. Clan. Anyone with a surname of Tan, Chan, or Chen belongs to this clan. This is because the Chinese characters in these names are the same. Chang is a very common Chinese surname, many of them from Guangzhou, China. Guangzhou has an ancestor temple of the Chan family, which is modeled after it. So you can see similar Cantonese architecture and art. Work began in 1896 and took 10 years to complete.

Think of it as a club for people from the same province of China. When immigrants from China arrived in Malaysia, it was very difficult for them to adapt to this new foreign land. The reason why the Clan Society is important is that immigrants provide contact with people who speak the same language and return to China to contact their families. The Clan Society also takes care of their general welfare.

The association also has temples. This is the subject of this article.

Don't miss the green and red facade from the outside. In fact, this temple is known as the “Green Temple”. When you look at the roof line from left to right, you can see the delicate ornaments that decorate the temple. Patiently, they tell stories of ancient China and Chinese mythology.

Just before entering the temple grounds, there are two pillars with a blue top. Proceed to the left to see the front of the temple. These are famous terracotta figurines that convey ancient history and mythology. These sculptures and sculptures are elaborate and attractive. There is the same fascinating sculpture on the right end of the front.

Inside the temple

Remember that in Malaysia, a religious place is not a tourist destination, but an actual religious place for followers to worship. If someone is deeply praying for meditation or prayer, be as discreet as possible.

You can see two gray stone lions at the high gates on the left and right. Stone lions are believed to protect the temple from the devil. The kanji below it translates very roughly into a welcome blessing.

There is another pair at eye level, this time white. You might think it is the same at first glance, but if you look carefully at your feet, you will see that they are different. Guardian lions are always made in pairs-one woman and one man. The one on the left is a female guardian and the right leg has a turnip that represents the circle of life. The one on the right is a male guardian, who has a left foot on the earth and expresses the "beat of the earth". Symbolically, women protect the people who live inside and men protect the structure of the temple.

Ishigaki has several Chinese characters that are typical features of Chinese architecture. At the top are four large kanji characters. Unlike English, Chinese words are read from right to left and from top to bottom. The four words are read as “Chen Shi Shu Yuen”. This is the "Chan clan learning hall. If you remember, the Clan clan has occupied this clan association. There are small letters on both sides of the word. They give you the name of the writer and it It tells you when it was written, in Chinese calligraphy or writing in China, writing is not just writing, it is an artistic skill, all works are artistic works, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci Think of drawing a masterpiece and signing off in the corner of the work, in fact, it is said that the writer's personality is reflected in his writing. It is too poetic to translate, but roughly speaking, it means "light is emitted from honor and wisdom may never die". This type of greeting is important in Chinese architecture, and each temple has its own greeting. If you have the opportunity to visit other Chinese temples, ask locals to translate these words of wisdom.

When you pass through the red door, the first thing that comes to mind is a sculpture with a golden tableau beautifully decorated above it.

On the left and right are the altars of God that protect the door.

On the left side next to the shrine are two nameplate inscriptions. One is red and the other is white. There are two plaques on the right side of the shrine. Both are black. Think of them as a kind of Hall of Fame. There, the great and prominent members of the Chang clan receive an acknowledgment for their contribution to the progress of the clan. They could have done anything that built a school, preserved heritage, donated a lot of money, or helped the Chang family.

There are more kanji on the red pillars on both sides. What do they say this time? Again, a little too poetic to translate, but they remind the current generation not to forget their ancestors. Chinese remember their ancestors through a unique tradition called ancestor worship. They raised pictures and inscriptions about their ancestors and offered food and joysticks as a way to seek their blessings. It is similar to the Catholic practice of seeking the intervention of saints who have died upright. In many Chinese homes you can see pictures and inscriptions of the deceased at the altar next to God. In fact, in this temple here, Chang of the current generation worships his ancestors.

There are now shops selling many interesting Chinese souvenirs in the courtyard. By that, I don't mean stylish tourism souvenirs, but good tea, ceramic teapots and many other interesting traditional goods. Chinese tea has its own grade, just like wine. In explaining good tea, there is a Chinese saying that good tea has a very strong fragrance and sticks to the cup after drinking. On the right is an exhibition hall that displays many interesting cultural presentations, including Chinese calligraphy. There is a main hall in front.

From the center of the courtyard, the roof of the building surrounding the courtyard is clearly visible. The first thing that attacks you is the open space concept. Many people are unaware that the courtyard is inside the building rather than outside. This is a very typical feature of Chinese architecture, and many temples are built this way. The courtyard is surrounded on all sides by building units. This is often known as an “empty well”. Concept because the roof forms a small opening to the sky. You may also notice that the width of a building is more important than height and depth and has a visual impact on the width of the building. The roof design uses Quantun-style pottery and has a rolling wave motif.

The main hall called De Xing Hall is right in front. Each section is described from left to right. On the left are four pictures of the early father. They are important early members of the Chang clan. There is a room next to the photo. There is a black and white photo of the deceased Chang family. Here, Chinese perform ancestor worship. It is after a column of names written on yellow paper. They are the names of the dead. The Chinese believe that life will continue after death, and the dead may affect the fate of life. Therefore, worshipers pray that their ancestors bless them with good luck and protect them from harm. Others do it from filial piety. This is very emphasized in Chinese culture.

In the left wall you can see red, orange and yellow wood. They are old letters written by an unknown person to remind his parents that the deceased are always watching, guiding and protecting their lives. This is another reminder to the current generation of the importance of ancestor worship.

On the left altar is a golden shrine with lots of pictures of the deceased. There are five porcelain vases in front of them on the table. The impressive golden pillar has a kanji roughly translated as a blessing of this sacred place, its name as sweet as fragrance, and this place pours out wisdom and talent.

Go to the main altar and you will see a magnificent golden shrine. This is an upright rest area, as the sign shows. The three statues are Shun Emperor Chun Hua Master, the late ancestor Chen Fu Man Master, and the honorary Kai Chang ruler Chen Yuan Guang Master. There are two paper servants on the table. Paper servants are usually burned with a currency that is thought to be used in the afterlife. There are many folding papers in modern times such as cars, homes, TVs, and telephones. Because it is believed that the dead will receive when burned. There are also 5 magnificent vases on the table.

A dancing lion stands on the vase in the middle. The dancing lion is believed to invite prosperity and drive away evil spirits.

In the next impressive golden pillar, there is a word of praise for this temple that reminds you to remember your ancestors to thrive.

Finally, there is a photo of the deceased on the right altar. The layout is similar to the left layout.

Next to it you will see the same layout of red, orange and yellow plates. These remind us again of the importance of ancestral worship.

The next four photos are outstanding Clanman photos.

There is a hall on the right side of the temple. There are many exhibits such as Chinese tea exhibitions, calligraphy demonstrations, and painting techniques.

I came to the end of the temple guide of Chan See Shu Yuen Clan Association. If you want to leave a comment, there is a visitor book near the right altar.