Ho Ann Kiong Temple (Malay: Tokong Ho Ann Kiong; Chinese: 护安宫) is a Chinese temple situated in Chinatown of Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. It is the oldest Taoist temple in the state as part of the Chinatown.[2][3]

Ho Ann Kiong Temple
Malay: Tokong Ho Ann Kiong
Chinese: 护安宫
Religion
AffiliationTaoism
DistrictKuala Terengganu District
Location
LocationKuala Terengganu
StateTerengganu
CountryMalaysia
Geographic coordinates5°19′57.803″N 103°7′58.285″E / 5.33272306°N 103.13285694°E / 5.33272306; 103.13285694
Architecture
TypeChinese temple
Date established1801[1]
Ho Ann Kiong Temple
Traditional Chinese護安宮
Simplified Chinese护安宫
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHù Ān Gōng
Wade–GilesHu⁴ An¹ Kung¹
Southern Min
Hokkien POJHō͘ An Kiong

History

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The temple was built in 1801 by early Chinese immigrants in Terengganu to fulfil their religious obligations. With the establishment of another temple known as Tian Hou Gong Temple in the area, the number of devotees slowly decreased and the building fell into disrepair.[1] A deadly epidemic then occurred in 1915 with half of the town population wiped out.[1] Suffering from a limited medical supplies at the time, the population immediately returned to praying in the temple to ask for mercy from the deities for cure.[1] Their appeal would be answered under a condition that the temple building should be repaired. The town population subsequently agreed to the condition and following the repair, the epidemic miraculously dissipated.[1]

In the week after Chinese New Year in 2010, half of the temple building was suddenly ravaged by fire.[4] Having learnt the lesson from the older town population, the newer generations immediately raised series of funds to repair and restore the damaged temple.[1] The temple was then fully restored in 2012 with a total cost of RM1.3 million.[5]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Alan Teh Leam Seng (13 February 2019). "Cultural melting pot in Kampung Cina". New Straits Times. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. ^ "ChinaTown". Tourism Terengganu. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Kampong China [China Town]" (PDF). Tourism Terengganu. p. 12, 13/52. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019. It is also home to two grand temple or toapekongs, the Ho Ann Kiong and the Tien Hou Kong.
  4. ^ Sazali M. Noor (23 February 2010). "Fire damages 200-year-old Ho Ann Kiong temple". The Star. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. ^ Farik Zolkepli (29 January 2012). "Centuries-old temple fully restored". The Star. The Buddhist Channel. Retrieved 18 March 2019.