Tan Si Chong Su, or Ancestral Hall of the Tan Clan, is a Chinese temple in Singapore.[1] It is located on Magazine Road in the Singapore River Planning Area within Singapore's central business district. It was constructed between 1876 and 1878 as the ancestral temple for those with the same Tan surname, based on the premise that Chinese people with the same surname would share a common ancestry and therefore belong to the same clan. The Temple also dedicated to Kai Zhang Sheng Wang (開漳聖王), the Patron Deity and founder of Zhangzhou City in China.
The temple is also known as the "Tan Seng Haw" and Po Chiak Keng (保赤宮, also written as Bao Chi Gong and other variants),[2] meaning "palace for the protection of the innocent", reflecting its earlier role as a place that provided help for those in disputes as well as new Chinese immigrants in Singapore.[1]
The first president of the temple was Tan Kim Tian. An indenture dated 28 July 1880 gave the names of the temple trustees as Tan Cheng Kiat, Tan Chew Cha, Tan Siak Kiew, Tan Mah Arang, Tan Hai Tiew and Tan Sim Boh.[3]
One of the wings of the temple originally housed a boys' school, Po Chiak School, founded in 1889, but was closed in 1949
The temple was built as the ancestral temple of Tan clan. The Chinese believed that people with the same surname share a common ancestry. An ancestral temple like Tan Si Chong Su provides their clan members a place to honour and respect their ancestors. It is here where the spirit tablets of deceased clan members are enshrined and venerated. The complex consists of an entrance hall, a main hall where the Deities are enshrined, and a rear hall where the ancestral tablets of illustrious Tans are kept. The halls are separated by open courtyards.[3]
The temple also served as the assembly hall for the Tan clan whose members extended beyond Singapore to Malaysia. Among some famous Tans associated with the temple was the former Finance Minister of Malaysia, Tun Tan Siew Sin, and his father, Tun Dato' Sir Tan Cheng Lock, founder and first president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, an important political party in Malaysia. Tan Cheng Lock and Tan Siew Sin were from Malacca as were the fathers of the temple's original founders. The temple's founders, Tan Kim Ching and Tan Beng Swee, were also associated with Malacca Peranakan clans. Another famous Tan is Tan Chin Tuan, a retired banker and noted philanthropist and one of the temple's trustees.[3]
ArchitectureEdit
The temple tackles issues of geomancy, axiality and orientation in relationship with its surrounding buildings, roads and circulation. For example, geomancy was said that a Chinese temple is not favorable to be allocated at the end of a narrow and tight street due to bad luck and to avoid holy mess.
Two lions, male and female, in granite guard the entrance.
ReferencesEdit
^ abc"Tan Si Chong Su". Roots. National Heritage Board.
^"Tan Si Chong Su". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board.
^ abcLee Geok Boi (2002), The Religious Monuments of Singapore, Landmark Books, ISBN981-3065-62-1
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tan Si Chong Su.
News articlesEdit
"Po Chiak Keng: Only Tans could pray here before 1982". The Straits Times (online). 16 February 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
External linksEdit
Official Website
Uniquely Singapore website
October 24, 2023
chong, ancestral, hall, clan, chinese, temple, singapore, located, magazine, road, singapore, river, planning, area, within, singapore, central, business, district, constructed, between, 1876, 1878, ancestral, temple, those, with, same, surname, based, premise. Tan Si Chong Su or Ancestral Hall of the Tan Clan is a Chinese temple in Singapore 1 It is located on Magazine Road in the Singapore River Planning Area within Singapore s central business district It was constructed between 1876 and 1878 as the ancestral temple for those with the same Tan surname based on the premise that Chinese people with the same surname would share a common ancestry and therefore belong to the same clan The Temple also dedicated to Kai Zhang Sheng Wang 開漳聖王 the Patron Deity and founder of Zhangzhou City in China Tan Si Chong Su陳氏宗祠Tan Si Chong Su TempleLocation within SingaporeArchitectureHeritage designationNational Monument of SingaporeDesignated date19 November 1974Completion date1878 145 years ago 1878 SiteLocation15 Magazine RoadCoordinates1 17 21 7 N 103 50 33 6 E 1 289361 N 103 842667 E 1 289361 103 842667Public accessYesNational monument of SingaporeDesignated19 November 1974Reference no 12The temple is also known as the Tan Seng Haw and Po Chiak Keng 保赤宮 also written as Bao Chi Gong and other variants 2 meaning palace for the protection of the innocent reflecting its earlier role as a place that provided help for those in disputes as well as new Chinese immigrants in Singapore 1 Contents 1 History 2 Function 3 Architecture 4 References 5 News articles 6 External linksHistory Edit nbsp The curved roof ridges are decorated with ornate ceramic phoenixes flowers and dragons The first president of the temple was Tan Kim Tian An indenture dated 28 July 1880 gave the names of the temple trustees as Tan Cheng Kiat Tan Chew Cha Tan Siak Kiew Tan Mah Arang Tan Hai Tiew and Tan Sim Boh 3 nbsp One of the wings of the temple originally housed a boys school Po Chiak School founded in 1889 but was closed in 1949It was gazetted as a national monument on 19 November 1974 1 Function EditThe temple was built as the ancestral temple of Tan clan The Chinese believed that people with the same surname share a common ancestry An ancestral temple like Tan Si Chong Su provides their clan members a place to honour and respect their ancestors It is here where the spirit tablets of deceased clan members are enshrined and venerated The complex consists of an entrance hall a main hall where the Deities are enshrined and a rear hall where the ancestral tablets of illustrious Tans are kept The halls are separated by open courtyards 3 The temple also served as the assembly hall for the Tan clan whose members extended beyond Singapore to Malaysia Among some famous Tans associated with the temple was the former Finance Minister of Malaysia Tun Tan Siew Sin and his father Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock founder and first president of the Malaysian Chinese Association an important political party in Malaysia Tan Cheng Lock and Tan Siew Sin were from Malacca as were the fathers of the temple s original founders The temple s founders Tan Kim Ching and Tan Beng Swee were also associated with Malacca Peranakan clans Another famous Tan is Tan Chin Tuan a retired banker and noted philanthropist and one of the temple s trustees 3 Architecture EditThe temple tackles issues of geomancy axiality and orientation in relationship with its surrounding buildings roads and circulation For example geomancy was said that a Chinese temple is not favorable to be allocated at the end of a narrow and tight street due to bad luck and to avoid holy mess nbsp Two lions male and female in granite guard the entrance References Edit a b c Tan Si Chong Su Roots National Heritage Board Tan Si Chong Su Singapore Infopedia National Library Board a b c Lee Geok Boi 2002 The Religious Monuments of Singapore Landmark Books ISBN 981 3065 62 1 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tan Si Chong Su News articles Edit Po Chiak Keng Only Tans could pray here before 1982 The Straits Times online 16 February 2017 Retrieved 10 July 2022 External links EditOfficial Website Uniquely Singapore website Singapore eCitizen website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tan Si Chong Su amp oldid 1179408654, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
