Fu De Ci Temple in George Town: A 215-year story of protection, prosperity and cultural significance
At the entrance, colourful sculptures and decorative tiles tell stories and Chinese folk tales that carry good wishes such as luck, peace and happiness while golden carvings decorate the interiors.
The 215-year-old temple, named the Fu De Ci Temple, was originally built as an annex to the main Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple in Tanjung Tokong.
Temple committee president Foo Yen Chow and vice president Datuk Lio Chee Yeong at the entrance of the temple.
The original temple was believed to be built by devotees who arrived and lived in Tanjung Tokong in 1792 but as George Town became a trading port where business was conducted, they decided to build a temple nearer to town for devotees there.
The temple committee vice president Datuk Lio Chee Yeong said the Fu De Ci Temple was built in 1810 and the earliest records of the temple show that it underwent major restorations sometime in 1865.
'There were other minor restorations throughout the years but the second major one was in 2015,' he said.
The restoration was done according to the appearance of a Fujian-style temple of the 1900s as they did not have any other records of the temple's appearance prior to that.
'It took longer to complete as we hired craftsmen from China to restore the intricate sculptures and carvings,' he said.
Intricate carvings and reliefs at the temple.
He said the whole roof was replaced as at one point in time, it was rebuilt with cement.
'We rebuilt the roof with timber and terracotta tiles while each sculpture and carving was restored through careful craftsmanship,' he said.
The restoration was completed in 2019 and the attention to details earned the temple the 2021 Unesco Asia-Pacific Award of Merit for Cultural Heritage Conservation due to its exemplary restoration that preserved its architectural authenticity and cultural significance.
The temple was built for folk religion devotees to seek blessings from the main deity, Thai Pak Koong, and other deities as well, such as Guan Gong (also known as Guan Sheng Di Jun), Da Er Ye Bo, Hua Gu (Flower Deity), Hu Ye Gong (Tiger deity) and Na Tuk Kong.
The main altar is dedicated to the deity Thai Pak Koong.
Thai Pak Koong was respected for his compassion and righteousness during his lifetime and after his passing, he was believed to manifest a divine presence who protected the local community in times of hardship.
Devotees seek blessings by making offerings to him at the temple or ask for an angpau from him.
Temple committee president Foo Yen Chow said those who were granted permission by the deity to get an angpau from him will receive blessings such as good luck and prosperity.
She said there have been stories of devotees having their wishes granted and coming back to offer thanks to the deity.
The deities Da Er Ye Bo (right) and Hua Gu (Flower Deity) (centre).
'Some of them come to seek blessings from Hua Gu and those who have their wishes granted would come back to make offerings of flowers and potted flowering plants to her as thanks,' she said.
Hua Gu is believed to have the power to bless devotees who seek good relationships and life partners.
The temple has continued to organise celebrations for the resident deities such as Thai Pak Koong's birthday which falls on the 16th day of the second lunar month, Hua Gu's birthday which is on the 12th day of the second lunar month and Guan Gong's birthday which falls on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month.
The temple is also open earlier for prayers and offerings by devotees on the 1st and 15th of every lunar month.
The altar dedicated to the deity Guan Gong (also known as Guan Sheng Di Jun).
Lio said the temple is open daily from 9am to 5pm and welcomes all visitors, including those who do not practise folk religion.
'This is not merely a place of worship but a cultural site full of historical significance,' he said.
He said the many features of the temple, from its ornate carvings to its intricate sculptures, are interesting features that visitors can admire.
'We plan to set up a heritage centre in future to showcase some of our artefacts and turn this into a cultural site for visitors to learn and understand more about our culture,' he said.
The temple is jointly managed by five Hakka clan associations, namely, the Fooi Chew, Kar Yin, Tai Pu, Yung Ting, and Tsenleung.
The temple is one of the eight heritage buildings that will open its doors to visitors under the Historic Building Open House programme during heritage celebrations on July 7.
Volunteers will give visitors guided tours of the temple to explain the significance of the features and deities in the temple.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
The only mark that matters — Nahrizul Adib Kadri
JULY 3 — We hear it all the time: Go out there and make your mark on the world. As if the world were a blank canvas, waiting for the boldest among us to leave a lasting imprint. As if greatness must always be loud, permanent, and far-reaching. But what if that's not the only way? What if the only mark that truly matters... is the one you make on yourself? We grow up thinking that legacy means building something colossal — a company, a movement, a monument. That to matter, we must be remembered. Statues, books, headlines. Something that outlives us. Something with our name etched in gold or cast in bronze. But the truth is, most of us will not be remembered that way. We won't all create empires or launch revolutions. We won't all be credited in textbooks or spoken of in speeches. And that's not a failure. That's simply reality — and a freeing one, if we let it be. Because maybe legacy isn't about being seen. Maybe it's about becoming someone who sees others. The people who shaped me most didn't do it through dramatic gestures. They didn't wear their impact like a badge. They didn't set out to make their mark. They just lived — with clarity, with consistency, with care. There was a teacher in primary school who didn't just teach mathematics, but discipline. Her name was Cikgu Aminah. She was strict, the kind of teacher who made you sit up straighter when she entered the room. You didn't want to be caught daydreaming in her class. But if you did your work, if you tried — even if you struggled — she softened. Not in words, but in tone, in the way she handed back your workbook with a nod that said, I see you trying. Keep going. She never wrote a book or won a national award. But I carry her in how I teach my own students today — how I hold them to a standard not out of harshness, but out of belief in what they can become. Or take my Abah. He didn't chase promotions or titles. He worked quietly, providing for our large family, raising seven children in a small town. I never saw him seek the limelight. But I also never saw him waver in responsibility. He got up early. He kept his promises. He taught us to finish what we started. His mark was not on the world. His mark was on us. And there are others — a university senior who took time to check on me during my first semester. Not just to show me where the lecture hall was, but to ask, genuinely, 'How are you doing?' It was a brief encounter, nothing cinematic. But it left an imprint. He didn't change my academic path. He changed how I thought seniors should behave. It shaped how I later mentored my own students. None of these people changed the world. But they changed mine. We often underestimate the ripple effect of becoming a better version of ourselves. — Picture from Unsplash/Tim Winkler We often underestimate this — the ripple effect of becoming a better version of ourselves. How a small act of patience, a moment of grace, a decision to respond gently instead of harshly, can shape someone else's path. Not with fireworks. But with warmth. With presence. We talk a lot about outer impact — achievements, positions, milestones. But the inward journey? The slow, honest work of growing into someone principled, kind, curious, generous? That's a different kind of legacy. One that doesn't need your name on a plaque to be real. One that echoes not in history, but in memory. People remember how you made them feel. Not just what you did. Who you were, in the ordinary moments. I think about the teachers, the mentors, the elders who've crossed my path. Many are gone. Some were never famous. But the mark they made lives on — not in buildings or blueprints, but in how I teach, how I lead, how I parent, how I listen. They didn't try to change the world. They tried to be whole. And in that wholeness, they became catalysts. Not by force, but by consistency. Not by charisma, but by character. Maybe the quiet work of shaping your values — your honesty, your discipline, your sense of humour, your ability to stay calm under pressure — ripples outward in ways you'll never fully see. But others will feel it. And they, in turn, will carry it forward. So if you're wondering whether your life is making an impact, don't just look outward. Look inward. Because the mark that matters most may not be the one you leave behind; But the one you leave within. * Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malay Mail
8 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Amid tragedy came relief': UPSI student hurt in fatal crash secures long-awaited MARA loan
JERTIH, July 3 — A Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student who survived last month's fatal bus crash in Gerik has finally received a long-awaited education loan from Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), ending a two-year wait. Nur Ain Najwa Mohd Ilias, 23, said she was overwhelmed with gratitude when MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki personally handed over the offer letter duting a visit to her family home in Kampung Gong Kemuntong recently. 'I applied for the loan twice since enrolling at UPSI, but both attempts failed due to technical errors in the form submission,' she told Bernama during a visit yesterday by the Girl Guides Malaysia (Terengganu branch), led by its president Tengku Puteri Daulath Raja Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra Sultan Mizan. 'Amid this tragedy, there was unexpected relief. Not only was I offered the loan I had long hoped for, but my younger twin brothers, who had postponed their own university education so I could pursue mine first, were also promised MARA assistance if accepted into higher learning institutions,' she said. The second of six siblings, Nur Ain Najwa said the loan, which takes effect in October, includes a RM800 monthly living allowance to ease her family's financial burden, as she had relied on her brothers' and part-time work, while receiving aid from the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM) to pay tuition. 'I didn't apply for a National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan because I had already received one during my diploma studies at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA),' said the Arabic Language and Education student. Her twin brothers, Muhammad Hassan and Muhammad Hussin, 22, now plan to further their studies, with the former applying to Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) and the latter awaiting results from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), expected this Friday. Nur Ain Najwa, who sustained a fractured left shoulder and a sprained right wrist in the crash, had earlier gone viral after sharing her family's struggles with Asyraf Wajdi during his visit to Gerik Hospital. The June 9 incident involved a chartered bus carrying 45 UPSI students from Jertih back to the main campus in Tanjung Malim and a Perodua Alza, resulting in 15 deaths and 33 others injured, including the drivers and passengers of both vehicles. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
9 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
New book celebrates 90 years of the valiant Royal Malay Regiment
Men of the 1st Experimental Company Malay Regiment, with Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel G.M Bruce on March 3 1937. (Creative Commons pic) KUALA LUMPUR : It started with a simple question in the 1930s. The British colonial government, concerned about the security of their territory in Malaya, wondered: 'Were the Malays capable of forming an effective modern fighting force?' An experiment was proposed. In 1933, a group of 25 Malay recruits were assigned to train with British officers in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan as part of the 1st Experimental Company. They would later form the Malay Regiment. This valiant group of dedicated men surpassed all the expectations of their superiors, and rose to become the country's most iconic Malaysian military unit. Known today as the Royal Malay Regiment, this intrepid fighting force has served the country in many of its most turbulent periods, including the first Malayan Emergency (1948-1960); the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation (1962-1966); the 2nd Malaysian Insurgency (1968-1989); and the Sarawak Communist Insurgency (1962-1990). This year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Malay Regiment, and a new book has been published to mark this milestone. 'The Malay Experiment: The Colonial Origins and Homegrown Heroism of the Malay Regiment' is a comprehensive account of the origins of this military unit, and details the bravery, loyalty and sacrifices of its men. Author Stuart Lloyd at a book signing. (Stuart Lloyd pic) Author Stuart Lloyd said his latest work is not a 'war book' but one about human stories. 'All my books are about the human spirit. About the people, good or bad, at the heart of the stories. I don't like talking so much about statistics, or numbers of troops in a battle. I prefer writing whether this person was crapping his pants as the enemies descended,' Lloyd told FMT Lifestyle with a laugh. Lloyd, a sixth-generation Southern African, was born in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) before emigrating to South Africa, then Australia. He has lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand for nearly 25 years. The author has conducted special-interest military history tours through Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and has written 21 non-fiction books which have topped best-seller charts in three countries. 'The Malay Experiment', Lloyd's fifth military history book, is a slim, 94-page book that will intrigue and captivate both military enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Published by CatMatDog Storytelling, it features a foreword by Brigadier General Mohamed Arshad Raji (Retired), a distinguished member of the Regiment. The cover of 'The Malay Experiment: The Colonial Origins and Homegrown Heroism of the Malay Regiment'. (CatMatDog Storytelling pic) The book's pages are populated with colourful personalities. The Malay Regiment's commanding officer, Captain George McIllree Stanton Bruce, almost feels like a character from a Hollywood blockbuster: a rugged World War hero with a jagged scar on his face. Bruce, however, proves adept at winning over his recruits: not only does he speak Malay, he also designs the regiment's iconic insignia, uniform and 'Taat dan setia' (faithful and true) motto. 'There could have been a clash of cultures. But ultimately, the story resolves itself through cultural sensitivity, which I think led to the eventual success of the regiment,' said Lloyd. 'Their uniform was localised, integrating part of the sarong, and colours significant to the Malays. These really showed the recruits this was something they could call their own, that their unit was not just a British transplant.' One of the most relatable parts of the book are details of Bruce's successful methods of attracting early recruits: 'Good soldiers need good food,' he (Bruce) reflected. 'I think more recruits were obtained by the words 'Makan ada baik' (our food is good) than by 'Ta'at setia''. Other fascinating characters making appearances are Raja Lope, the adopted son of a Sultan who rises from private to brigadier, and Lt Adnan Saidi, who valiantly sacrificed his life fighting Japanese invaders at the battle of Pasir Panjang. The crest of the Malay Regiment. ( pic) The book's engaging narrative takes readers from the fall of Singapore to the climactic battle of Bukit Chandu and the glorious parades of Merdeka. It's clear that the story of the Malay Regiment is not over yet: it will be interesting to see how it continues to serve the nation into the future. Lloyd said the story of the Malay Regiment developed in parallel with the story of Malaysia, with both the country and military unit growing in strength and confidence over the years. 'I think the Malay Regiment is a success story Malaysians can all take pride in. I will make the point that they outperformed many British and Australian regiments in Singapore at the time,' the author concluded. 'It's a moving account of how a culture, previously untested in warfare, managed to stand up and show the world what they could do.' 'The Malay Experiment' is available at selected bookstores nationwide. Also visit Stuart Lloyd's website.
