Heritage tour to anxi sheng hong temple

September 13, 2017 8:19 am

HERITAGE TOUR TO ANXI SHENG HONG TEMPLE – By JiLing

 

Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple organized a heritage tour to visit the Sheng Hong Temple annually in Hokkien Anxi Province.  This year, the 6-day tour was held from 2 – 7 April 2017 with more than 60 participants.

 

I am delighted to be a member of the entourage.  Appended is a detailed itinerary of the heritage tour :

 

 

2.4.2017

Upon our delegate’s arrival in Anxi at 3pm, we proceeded to offer prayer at Sheng Hong Temple.  Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple Vice-President, Mr Lim Chwee Kim, PBM self-carried Qian Xi Xian You Bo Zhu – City God to Anxi Sheng Hong Temple after 100 years of stay in Singapore.

 

Our delegation was warmly received by Temple Representatives and street procession performers.  A mass trail of fire-crackers was also lighted to welcome us.  Our Team Leader, Mr Tan Thiam Lye, BBM and Honorary Secretary of LKC Sheng Hong Temple was interviewed by their local media.  He elaborated on the objectives of organizing this heritage tour and the history of LKC Sheng Hong Deity which had been enshrined in Singapore since 1971.

 

Our delegates raised the banner after the prayer and this signified the commencement of the tour participated by our delegation.

 

 

3.4.2017

Our delegates participated in a 1-day educational tour to a joss stick factory and a pottery.  We adjourned to “Sing Shui Yuan Temple” located at the Fang Lai Mountain (700m above sea level) in Anxi City.  The scenery at this mountainous region was beautiful.  Legendary, Qing Shui Deity was a renowned monk and he helped people selflessly.   Many local and overseas devotees worshipped him.

 

 

4.4.2017

The delegation returned to Anxi Sheng Hong Temple at 5am to join the street procession.  At 6am, the local and overseas devotees swum into the Temple to pray to Sheng Hong Deity.  This was an annual prayer with much significant, as many would pray for blessings for themselves and their family member.

 

At 7am, the village folks took turns to carry both City God Deities by sedan chairs to lead the procession.  Villagers gathered by the roadside to view the procession.  Along the way, devotees prepared offerings to pray to Sheng Hong Deities as this was an auspicious time whom Sheng Hong Deity appealed on the soul’s behalf for help.

 

The delegates returned to join the procession after lunch.  Our delegates worn the Temple T-shirt and Jacket, lifting banners and flags to join the grand procession, which covered a distance of more than 2 kilometers.  Performers including dragon dance, drumming troupe, etc joined in the procession.

 

The delegation left for Xiamen at 3pm by coach and arrived at 7pm.  Delegates were warmly received by Representatives from Xiamen Sheng Hong Temple.  The Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu – Fifth Replica of City God from Anxi Sheng Hong Temple was also honored by devotees from other provinces and overseas.

 

Xiamen Sheng Hong Temple hosted an opera to usher this auspicious occasion.  Before the commencement of the opera, there was a celestial ceremony and the opera artistes would recite auspicious words to bring blessings to the people.

 

On the very night, Mr Lim Fu Shou, Chairman of Xiamen Sheng Hong temple and “Yue Shan Earth Deity Temple” host a dinner at Xiamen Hua Qiao Hotel for us.

 

 

5.4.2017

In the morning, our delegates and Sheng Hong Deity proceeded to Jinmen, Taiwan to visit “Wu Dao Sheng Hong Temple”.  The delegates were briefed on the history of the Temple.  It was built 333 years ago and restored in 1982.  Several Deities were worshipped in the Temple and it had a large number of devotees.  The Temple celebrated its grand event on 12th April annually.

 

In the afternoon, delegates called upon the government officials of Jinmen.  The Secretary, Mr Lin De Gong briefed the delegation on the history of Jinmen, its development, progress and their culture.  There was an exchange of memento between Taoist Federation Chairman, Mr Tan Thiam Lye and the host.  Both parties mutually agreed to strengthen the ties in the years ahead.

 

 

6.4.2017

The delegation returned to Xiamen city.  Sheng Hong Deity and the delegates visited “Houxi Xi Cheng Sheng Hong Temple” located at Jimei area, Houxi Village.  Our City God was placed at the altar of the Central Hall of the Temple.  The Temple was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1662 and it was subsequently restored.

 

The Temple’s orchestra troupe, drummers and musicians put up excellent performances for this occasion.  Both City God Deities were placed in sedan chairs and were carried by devotees and village folks to lead the street procession.  It was a tradition for the Temple to organize this street procession to honor Sheng Hong Deity.  The procession ends with fireworks as a finale.  This was indeed a grand procession which was most memorable to me.

 

There was a gift exchange between both parties and they hoped the mutual relationship could be further strengthened.  The local media interviewed our Team Leader, Mr Tan.  Our delegates were each given an amulet for blessings of good fortune and health.  Our delegates contributed a total sum of RMB 5,000/- to the Temple.  The Temple Management Committee had hosted a sumptuous lunch to us and had also extended their warm hospitality to us during the visit.

 

At 2.30pm, the Sheng Hong Deity and delegates participated in a Cultural Exchange Programme at Zhong Shan Road.  Legendary, Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu (City God) left Xiamen to Singapore a century ago in 1917.  The return of City God to his home Temple in Anxi marked a new milestone for the Deity.  Devotees from more than 20 Temples in Wu Dao City and other villagers in Hokkien Province also participated in this cultural ceremony.  A ceremonial prayer to honor Sheng Hong Deity was led by our Vice-President, Mr Lim Chwee Kim, PBM and 4 other representatives from Xiamen Sheng Hong Temple.

 

A grand cultural programme “Sheng Hong Cultural Nite” was hosted at Hua Qiao Hotel at 6pm.  The programme include instrumental performances with hokkien songs, dance items, acrobatic shows,  etc.  Team Leader, Mr Tan and Vice-President, Mr Lim were both invited on stage to give away the lucky draw prizes.  Mr Tan also presented a memento to thank the host party.

 

 

7.4.2017

At 10am, LKC Sheng Hong Temple City God and the delegation visited “Xiamen Xian Yue Shan Tu Di – Earth Deity Temple”.  The Earth Deity was built during the Song Dynasty and it had a long history.  It was a prosperous and renowned Temple.  In late 2006, both local and overseas devotees donated generously to the Temple’s rebuilding programme.  The rebuilding project lasted 20 months and it was launched on the Lunar 20th day of 8th month in year 2008.  The sculptures in the Temple, including wall murals were done by experienced craftmen.  Some of the sculptures had been classified as cultural heritage monument.  It was in the midst of erecting another prayer hall. Our delegates donated generously to the Temple’s rebuilding programme.  The Temple’s President, Mr Lim Fu Shou hosted a lunch for our delegates and other guests.

 

On the last day of this heritage tour, delegates departed from Xiamen to Singapore.  Overall, we had visited 4 Temples in this trip, namely Anxi Sheng Hong Temple, Wu Dao Sheng Hong Temple, Xia Cheng Sheng Hong Temple and Xiamen Xian Yue Shan Tu Di – Earth Deity Temple.  Apart from visiting the temples, delegates also join in the Sheng Hong cultural programmes organized by the host parties.  This delegation had a rewarding trip and it ended smoothly with fond memories.  As to our Long Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple, the trip had certainly strengthened the bond and cordial relationship amongst the Sheng Hong Temples in both China and Taiwan.

 

 

/Heritage Tour to Anxi Sheng Hong Temple