Religion In Pekan

No matter the size of the town in Malaysia, chances are you're going to find temples for Hindus and Buddhists. A mosque or five. Time to check out what small Pekan has to offer.

Lie Sheng Gong Chinese temple, typical pagoda design.

Tale of two altars. On the left, the one inside Lie Sheng. On the right, a more compact example, wedged into an urban shophouse.

Selection of paper prayer slips. Choose one and throw it into the incinerator.

Hindu time, the town's small Indian temple, all recently painted. One requirement, bright.

Finally, how the dominant (and national) Malaysian religion rolls, the historic Muslim mosque.

Tua Pek Kong Temple In Miri

Every city, town, village in Malaysia seems to have at least one Chinese temple. In central Miri, the temple is Tua Pek Kong. It may be an old congregation, but the temple itself is recent construction. The building sits next to a fish market, jammed against nearby tall buildings, not quite the idyllic environment. Best to concentrate on the interior and other attractions.

Parking lot and giant gate. Found the right place.

Altar area inside the temple. Ceiling dragon with nasty claw and heap o' lanterns.

Ornate incinerator used for burning various votive objects - paper, prayers, fake money.

Details. Boxed religious items, wall mural.

Cleaning up after fireworks.

Qing Shui Temple Along Lotus Lake In Kaohsiung

Qing Shui Temple is one of more than a dozen temples around Lotus Lake in North Kaohsiung. What helps it stand out is the level of craftsmanship in its decoration.

The temple, built in 1787, is devoted to Master Qing Shui, who fought against the Yuan army. Reaching waay back for inspiration.

Temple front, looming rooftop sitting Buddha looking down on everyone.

Heading in. Check the sign scroll for the latest announcements. The big boy.

Main prayer area, an overwhelming amount of carved wood.

Looking up won't help to avoid the carved wood, the temple is dripping with it. Impressive. More wood work in one of the altars.

Upstairs is a funky prayer area with columns and dragon, chicken sculptures made from Chinese porcelain dishes. Radical.

Gushan Daitian Temple In Kaohsiung

There's a nice urban Chinese temple tucked into the old port area of Yancheng in Kaohsiung. It's a nice contrast to many of the mega temple complexes farther outside the city. Daitian seems the right scale and vibe for its location.

Impressive entrance. The temple was built in 1951.



The main prayer hall. Traditional painting of a genre scene.

More impressive holy stories in high relief.

Typical offerings, some beer with the nuts. A closer look at the elaborate rooftop carving.

The steel wool wise man in a copper grotto.

Mega Yuanheng Temple In Kaohsiung

They go for some big temple complexes in Taiwan. The "Rocky Temple," originally built in 1679, is now a major complex with more than a dozen buildings. Monastery, dorm rooms, bell tower, parking garage. Quite the religious campus.

Big is better.

How big? There's a handy directory, as if you arrived at the mall or an industrial park. Side pavilion.

The main prayer hall. Why stop at one Buddha?

Giant bell tower and an abstract angle at the eaves.

Back in the prayer hall, Buddha seems happy at his size.

Details Of Chinese Temples In Melaka

There are a handful of nice Chinese temples to check out in Melaka, most of them sticking to a traditional pagoda design with offering tables, a few prayer altars. You remember what they look like?

Moving on to details, a chance for a place to get a little personality.

Land of ancestral tablets.

Grotto Buddha. Diorama show.

Diorama detail.

Altar painting and icon.

Moody room.

Back at the grotto, the Big Reveal. Temple tools.

Another ancestral tablet area, strong memories.

Chinese Temple Style In Yangon

Myanmar, like most Asian countries, has a Chinese presence. Dotted around the city are a few temples catering to this minority.

The front courtyard of the Kheng Hock Keong temple.

Fancy courtyards and altar spaces.

Temples are a great place for perpetual socializing.

Offering details. Don't forget to stuff an icon with a little Lipo.

Study of a prayer alcove in white and red.