If there’s ever a regional deity common to Singapore and Malaysia, it has to be the Chinese Tua Pek Gong, who was a favourite deity for sailors. Not surprising, considering much of Singapore’s modern population arrived by boat, seeking opportunity and employment in these shores. The worship of Tua Pek Gong has carried on to today by the Taoist community – and Photosophize observes the veneration of the deity at the Loyang Tua Pek Gong Temple.

I am not very sure how best to explain what/who Tua Pek Gong is. “Tua Pek Gong” 大伯公 is Hokkien pronunciation of a Chinese deity. The literal translation of “Tua Pek Gong” is Great Grand Master. According to Wiki, Tua Pek Gong was a pantheon of Malaysian Chinese Gods. He was a Hakka (one of Chinese dialect) man named Zhang Li who landed on Penang accidentally after his Sumatra bound boat was struck by wind. I guessed he must have done a lot of good deed in Penang because after his death, people worshipped him and even built a Tua Pek Gong temple after him. Tua Pek Gong was so revered among the Chinese community that it was being worshipped not only by Malaysian Chinese but Singaporeans Chinese as well.

Check out the local worship of Tua Pek Gong, and some of Singapore’s Chinese Temple culture in Photosophize.