Quote from “Negotiating Conceptions of ‘Sacred Space’: A Case Study of Religious Buildings in Singapore by Lily Kong
In the case of a Chinese temple, the Tang Suahn Kiong San Soh Hoo Chu Buddhist Temple, previously in Henderson Road, the site was required for a swimming pool to be built by the HDB as part of the Bukit Merah Town Centre development project. The Gazette notification for acquiring the temple site was made in April 1973 and the site was acquired in April 1975 at a compensation payment of S$184,000. The HDB repeatedly made offers to the trustees to combine with other similar resettlement cases to build a new temple on sites offered by the Board. However, by January 1978, the trustees of the 120-year old temple were still insisting on the retention of the temple at the existing site. Their argument was that the temple was very popular with worshippers and was full of valuable artifacts which they felt should be preserved. The HDB, on the other hand, felt that the geographical location of the temple was highly undesirable because the surrounding land averaged eight to ten metres higher. It was also argued that the temple’s artifacts could be removed and preserved at another site and not destroyed with the shell of the temple, “which is a simple brick structure” (quoted in The Straits Times, 7 January 1978). Despite the arguments put up by the temple trustees and their initial refusal to move, they still had to vacate the premises eventually because the Land Acquisition Act (1966) was invoked.
Reference:
Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, New Series, Vol. 18, No. 3 (1993), pp. 342-358
11 responses so far ↓
Anonymous // October 27, 2007 at 5:33 pm |
I was away in UK completing my studies when the “Black
Friday” ..the 13th fires occurred. I remember at the time the
rumours abounding that these were not so “accidental” as one might
suppose . The speed at which the authorities cleared up the post
blaze mess around “Ang swoir”, mostly kampong area then, and started
building the early HDB flats raised a few eyebrows , as some
thought , even if they did not express the question, was this pre
planned? If you ask me I would say those fires only hastened what was
going to happen anyway.
Did you know about the Guan Di temple at Henderson road? The one
that took the URA under Liu Tai Ker five years to finally demolish in
one of the rare folks resisting the authorities situation. We have
discussed this one on the site much earlier. Guan Di via his medium
said he didn’t want to shift. The Sng brothers who held the title
deeds to the land were told to get lost and offered a compensation
worth less than 5% of the property. The Sng brothers came back with a
counter offer to donate 90% of the land to the authorities, in
exchange for not destroying the temple. Several Australian
architects , working in Singapore , and interested in the temples
predicament offered their free services to draw out several plans
allowing the temple to survive alongside the filtration unit for the
intended swimming pool of the new HDB towers. Can’t remember if it
was “Time” or “Newsweek” that came out with the article “Kuan Yew V
Lord Kwan”. URA rejected all the counter proposals. The architects
disappeared, some said their work permits were revoked.
(suppositions) This temple, said to have a history of over 100
years , though small in size was architecturally “interesting” as a
copy of the mother temple in Fujien built in traditional style with
wooden joints, no nails and cement . ( I’m not qualified to discuss
this).
Guan Di’s halberd style weapon apparently weighed 80 catties. I
could not lift it from its stand. It seems the original medium when
in trance could brandish that weapon, I was told but did not witness.
Anyway it all ended when several vehicles of the riot squad turned up
to clear the area of people as the bulldozers moved in to complete
the saga.
Ive only briefly outlined the details of what was a long
protracted, and certainly heroic struggle of a small group of folk to
obey the wishes of their Deity. An offshoot of this temple seems to
have since resurfaced in Pongol. As to the pool , there were
predictions that there would be several deaths . I have no proof of
this, but was told by informants that this did happen, and for a
while the pool was rather abandoned. I have not yet returned to
confirm the details. The above events according to my memory happened
around early 80s.
Kelvin // December 27, 2008 at 3:21 am |
Erm to the person who so helpfully, at least explained our roots of our temple.
sadly. we are reduced to almost ashes, but we are still running with only for disciples all under 30 years old. Currently out temple last time known as (Tang Suahn Kiong San Soh Hoo Chu Buddhist Temple ) is now known as leng lian keng is now situated in bukit merah view blk 114. although its a bit shaken but from the looks of the statues to anyone whom have been there before it was demolished should recgonise them. i hope our temple will once rise from the bottom again just like last time. i am very sincere in making our temple build up again. you guys can email me at 81129689. I am really greatful!
Ong Fu Tze // January 28, 2009 at 11:59 pm |
San Xi Fu Tze, who is He? Is it Kwan Yun Chang? Deity worshipped by both Law-abiding people & the people from the underworld?
Seldom nowadays the Taoist temples refer to Him by such name.
kelvin // March 27, 2009 at 3:08 am |
yeap original! our command tablet is from shan xi 山西。 btw he is not from the underworld. 山西父子 (shan xi fu (“tze”->zi) is actually Guan Yu or when he had his manifestation is called as guang gong 关公。 as he said that he wanted to protect lord buddha.
Ah Leng // March 27, 2009 at 5:39 pm |
Well you are right, he is known as Kwan Sheng Di Jun, Kwan Di Yeh, Kwan Gong. Nowadays only few temples in Singapore address him as Shang Xi Fu Zi, especially those old temples. The off-shoot from this temple still exist, just that not much people know.. Only those old residents living near Bukit Merah View knows it. Or those who used to visit the temple’s at the original site may know where it is now. Let’s hope this old establish temple will still carry on it’s mission to help the devotees
Long Lian // March 27, 2009 at 5:48 pm |
Hi to all readers, just for your info, (Tang Suahn Kiong San Soh Hoo Chu Buddhist Temple ), is actually a Taoist Temple not Buddhist Temple. It has a long history which brave through rains and storms. However let’s us pray for the continuity of this temple and hope that one day this temple will regain it’s formal status. Cheers
kelvin // March 30, 2009 at 12:17 pm |
sorry my email is kelcandice@yahoo.com
Lao Fu Tzi // April 1, 2009 at 12:53 am |
By the way, Kelvin Fu Tze, your chinese “Fu” is wrong. It’s not written as “Papa” but ” the “Fu” is correctly written as “Gentleman”.
U know Lao Fu Tze / “Lo Fu Jee” (cantonese)?
Deuce // April 8, 2009 at 9:21 pm |
Hi Fu Tzi,
So 山西父子 is also known as Lao Fu Tze/Lo Fu Jee? I stayed in HK for 10 yrs, researching chinese culture esp. folklore. Never heard of that. Is this a local slang?
Wise old Man // April 19, 2009 at 2:29 am |
Guan Di’s halberd style weapon apparently weighed 80 catties?????
Anyone knows where the big blade is now????
leong kei // June 1, 2009 at 1:20 pm |
1)where is the henderson rd “kuan dao” residing now? 2)whereabout in pongol is the resurfaced temple 3)whr relationship does this henderson road temple with striling road, “chong yii mui”