Kek Lok Si

The Kek Lok Si Temple (

Kek Lok Si has also been translated as "Heavenly temple",^[2] "Pure Land Temple"^[3] (Sukhāvatī is one of the pure lands), "Temple of Supreme Bliss",^[4] and the "Temple of Paradise".^[4]

History

The construction of the temple began in 1890

The consular representative of China in Penang reported the grandeur of the temple to the Qing imperial government. Following this, the Guangxu Emperor invited Beow Lean to Beijing in 1904 and bestowed on him 70,000 volumes (or 7,000, according to other sources) of the "psalms and other sacred works of Buddhism" and also presented him edicts anointing him the "dignity of the Chief Priest of Penang" and also declaring "the Chinese temple at Air Itam as the head of all Chinese temples in Penang".^[3][4] On the abbot's return to Penang, a royal procession, carrying the edict in a rattan chair and the scriptures in pony-driven carts, was organised leading to the temple complex. Prominent Chinese dignitaries of Penang in their royal mandarin attire accompanied the abbot in the procession.^[4]

In 1930, the seven-storey main

In 2002, a 30.2-metre (99 ft)

The temple complex has a large hydraulically operated bell, which tolls with a high pitch at frequent intervals. Wood and stone carvings are profusely seen in the temple. In front of each deity there is a cushion, impressive scrolls, and candles set in very attractive suspended lamps, and with a large number of priests in attendance.[4]

In October 2021, about 70% of one of the temple buildings was destroyed by the fire, with flames measuring about 12m by 15m. The Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA) were alerted about the incident at 2:56am on a Tuesday morning. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by authorities.^[14]

Description

Kek Lok Si Temple is located at the foot of the Air Itam mountain in George Town on Penang Island. It is built over a plot of an area of 12.1 hectares (30 acres) that was donated by Yeoh Siew Beow. It is about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) walk from the Penang Hill Station.^[2][6]

Most visitors approach the temple as they ascend a stairway, roofs of which provide shelter to a multitude of shops selling souvenirs and other - mostly secular - commodities. They pass by a so-called Liberation Pond, following the Buddhist tradition of merit-making,

There are two tiers of double-lane inclined elevators to carry pilgrims and visitors further uphill. An electric buggy service links the different tiers of elevators as their middle levels are some distance apart. On the elevated platform, there is a fish pond, and the towering statue of Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, beseeched by women hoping to have children.[5]^[15] Monks and nuns reside in a monastery.

Annual events

The temple is a focal point of festivals of the Chinese community in Penang. The Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly impressive. For 30 days following Chinese New Year, the temple remains open until late at night whilst thousands of lights turn the scenery into a sea of light. During the festival days, the complex is decorated with thousands of lanterns representing donations offered by devotees. Another festive feature is the long marches undertaken by hundreds of monks from Thailand to the temple, once or twice in a year.^[7][16]

Worship

Worship of the deities in the temple complex reflects the diversity of the ethnic origins of the Buddhist devotees. Such worship could be in the form of counting prayer beads or by burning incense or by cash offerings or just by bowing and clapping to make one's presence known to the deity. Highly learned people offer prayers at the tower of Sacred Books in the upper part of the temple. Some pilgrims also offer prayers in the extensive gardens located in the precincts of the temple.^[2]

The religious paraphernalia sold along the winding steps that lead to the temple precincts cater to the religious offerings to be made by the pilgrims. The goods on sale comprise ornaments, books, pictures, collection of sayings and strings of a sacred orange colour and mementos such as T-shirts and CDs.^[9]

Incidents

Fire Outbreak

A fire broke out at the temple on the morning of 12 October 2021, and The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia were alerted about the incident at 2:56am. The flames had already engulfed one of the temple buildings when firemen arrived at the scene.^[17] Penang Fire and Rescue Department operations officer, Muhamad Norhisham Ibrahim reported that the fire have completely destroyed at least 70% of the 18.5 square metre temple building with fires fully extinguished around 6 am.^[18] There were no casualties or injuries reported during the whole incident. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by authorities.^[19] As of 18 October 2021, the temple complex is still opened to the public except for its affected mid-section.^[20] The temple is promised be repaired before 22 December 2021, the date marking the 130th anniversary of the temple.^[21]

See also

• Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital
• Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
• Dhammikarama Burmese Temple
• Mahindarama Buddhist Temple
• Wat Buppharam
• Wat Chayamangkalaram
• Buddhism in Malaysia

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Moore, Wendy (1998). West Malaysia and Singapore. Tuttle Publishing.
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• Brockman, Norbert (13 September 2011). Encyclopedia of Sacred Places. ABC-CLIO.
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• Cheah, Jin Seng (19 February 2013). Penang 500 Early Postcards. Editions Didier Millet.
  ISBN 978-967-10617-1-8
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• Davidson, Linda Kay; Gitlitz, David Martin (1 January 2002). Pilgrimage: From the Ganges to Graceland : an Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO.
  ISBN 978-1-57607-004-8
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• DeBernardi, Jean Elizabeth (2009). Penang: Rites of Belonging in a Malaysian Chinese Community. NUS Press.
  ISBN 978-9971-69-416-6
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• Harper, Damian (December 2006). Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet.
  ISBN 978-1-74059-708-1
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• Khoo, Gaik Cheng (1 January 2006). Reclaiming Adat: Contemporary Malaysian Film and Literature. UBC Press.
  ISBN 978-0-7748-1173-6
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• Khoo, Salma Nasution (2007). Streets of George Town, Penang. Areca Books. p. 37.
  ISBN 978-983-9886-00-9
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• Neo, Kyle (1 May 2014). 108 Places To See Before Nirvana. PartridgeIndia.
  ISBN 978-1-4828-9734-0
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• "Kek Lok Si". Tourism Malaysia. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
• "Stand up for moderation". The Star Online. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
• White, Daniel; Ron, Emmons; Eveland, Jennifer; Jen Lin-Liu (9 June 2011). Frommer's Southeast Asia. John Wiley & Sons.
  ISBN 978-1-118-08767-1
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang.

• Official Website of Kek Lok Si Temple