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Draft:Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple

Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple
龟屿福山宫大伯公庙
Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple
Religion
AffiliationTaoism, Buddhism
FestivalsKusu Island Pilgrimage
Location
LocationKusu Island, Singapore
CountrySingapore
Architecture
Date established1923

Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple (Traditional Chinese 龜嶼福山宮大伯公廟 Simplified Chinese 龟屿福山宫大伯公庙) is a Chinese temple in Singapore affiliated to Taoism and it is located on Kusu Island. The word “Kusu” means tortoise or turtle in the Hokkien dialect. The temple is dedicated to the worship of Tua Pek Kong.

History

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Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple (Traditional Chinese: 龜嶼福山宮大伯公廟 Simplified Chinese: 龟屿福山宫大伯公庙) is a Chinese temple in Singapore affiliated to Taoism and it is located on Kusu Island. The word “Kusu” means tortoise or turtle in the Hokkien dialect. The temple is dedicated to the worship of Tua Pek Kong.

In 2023, the temple celebrated its 100th year anniversary.[1]

Mythology

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There are many legends surrounding the island and they mainly revolve around a giant tortoise as well as the friendship between two men, one Malay and the other Chinese.[2]

  1. 2 holy men by the name of Syed Rahman, an Arab, and Yam, a Chinese, who meditated and fasted on their pilgrimage to Kusu Island. During the journey, Yam fell ill, and Syed prayed for his recovery. Their lives were saved when a boat appeared with food and water. Thereafter, the 2 holy men regularly visited Kusu Island to give thanks. The Tua Pek Kong temple and Datuk Keramat shrine were subsequently erected and dedicated to their memory.[2] [3]
  2. During one lunar 9th month centuries ago, shipwrecked sailors were rescued by a giant turtle which turned itself into an island. The sailors returned the next year to make offerings. Since then, Kusu Island has become a place of worship.[3]
  3. 2 shipwrecked fishermen, a Chinese and a Malay were saved by a giant turtle that transformed into an island.[2]

Worship

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Tua Pek Kong or Da Bo Gong is the main deity alongside Guanyin (观音)to be worshipped at the temple. Tua Pek Kong is also known as Fude Zhengshen(福德正神). Tua Pek Kong is seen as the God of Prosperity, Merchant God and a patron deity of seafarers.[2][3] The signboard at the entrance of the temple states that Tua Pek Kong has the powers to confer prosperity, cure diseases, calm the sea and advert danger whereas Guanyin is known as "Giver of Sons".

Other deities being worshipped in the temple include Eight Immortals (八仙), Guan Yu (关羽) and the Tiger god (虎爷). The temple also houses a fertility tree (求子树), where well wishes are hung upon it.

The temple also houses turtle statues and a turtle pond.

Kusu Pilgrimage

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Every year during the Chinese Lunar 9th month, thousands of devotees from Singapore and neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand will make their pilgrimage to Kusu Island.[3] The 9th lunar month is thought to be sacred due to its linkages to the origination myth of Kusu Island.[3] During the pilgrimage, offerings such as fruits, joss papers and Chinese prosperity cakes (發糕) are brought by pilgrims to give thanks to the deities and pray for blessings. Pilgrims would also replace fulu talismans and fraying amulets from the previous year with new ones.

As part of the annual pilgrimage, devotees also climb 152 steps to pay respects to the 3 Datuk Keramat on top of a hill. The 3 shrines are dedicated to Syed Abdul Rahman, Nenek Ghalib and Puteri Faimah.

In 2024, the Kusu Island pilgrimage season would fall between 3rd October 2024 to 31 October 2024.[4]

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Pilgrim praying to Tua Pek Kong on Kusu Island
 
Talismans and fraying amulets from the Tua Pek Kong Temple
 
Fertility tree at Kusu Island


References

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  1. ^ Ang, Shermaine (2023-10-15). "Kusu Island comes to life as pilgrimage season kicks off; temple celebrates 100th anniversary". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  2. ^ a b c d Lu, Caixia (2012). "The Kusu Pilgrimage: An Enduring Myth" (PDF). International Institute for Asian Studies: The Newsletter. 59: 50–51.
  3. ^ a b c d e Chia, Jack Meng-Tat (2009). "Managing The Tortoise Island: Tua Pek Kong Temple, Pilgrimage, and Social Change in Pulau Kusu, 1965–2007" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies. 11 (2): 72–95.
  4. ^ "Kusu Pilgrimage Season 2024". www.sla.gov.sg. Retrieved 2024-09-24.

Additional Reading

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  1. Keeping traditions alive on Kusu Island
  2. The Origin Stories of Keramat Kusu
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