Thean Hou Temple Malaysia

Thean Hou Temple is one of the oldest and largest temples in Southeast Asia. Southwest of the city, it is a popular tourist attraction and is located along Jalan Klang Lama. Overlooking the Federal highway, the six-tiered Buddhist temple is also known as the Temple of the Goddess of Heaven.
Dedicated to Tian Hou, a goddess said to protect fishermen, the temple is also a shrine where many come to worship Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. Built by KL’s Hainanese community in 1894, it is set on a hill and offers wonderful views of the city.
Inside Thean Hou Temple is a modern Buddhist pagoda and plenty of Buddha images enshrined in the octagonal hall. There is also a statue of Tian Hou which sits between the Goddess of the Waterfront and the Goddess of Mercy. Additionally, statues of Guan Di (the God of War) and Wei Tuo contribute to incorporate elements of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism into its grandiose structure. The temple also features a Chinese medicinal herbs garden and a tortoise pond along with a well; beside the temple is a sacred Boddhi tree.
Thean Hou Temple’s structural design represents a successful combination of contemporary architectural style and traditional designs with intricate embellishments and ornate carvings and murals.
The front entrance has a multi-arched gateway with red pillars, to symbolize prosperity and good fortune. Also, the temple has dragon-inspired columns and pagoda rooftops, and an extravagant prayer hall with three altars.
You can often see both devotees and visitors burning joss sticks, kneeling in prayer and placing offerings at the feet of the statues. During Chinese festivals such as Wesak Day and Mooncake festival, thousands of devotees frequent the temple.
Thean Hou Temple is a popular wedding venue among KL’s Chinese locals and even conducts fortune telling readings as well as traditional Chinese exercise and martial arts activities such as Qigong, tai-chi and wushu classes. Minibus #27 from the Klang bus terminal takes you to Jalan Syed Putra and the temple is only a short walk away.
Set on a hill with commanding views over Kuala Lumpur, this six-tiered temple is a syncretic mix of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The elaborate architecture marries modern techniques with traditional styles. Amongst the largest Chinese temples in South East Asia, it has been thronged with worshippers and tourists since its opening. As well as Thean Hou, the Heavenly Mother, its principal deities are Guan Yin. the Goddess of Mercy, and Shui Wei Sheng Niang, the Goddess of the Waterfront.
The temple has elements from Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It’s an incredible combination of modern and traditional architectural techniques which makes it quite unique.