Ornate architectural detail, exterior of Cheng Hoon Teng temple, Malacca, Malaysia. The temple was established in the 1600’s, with two halls added in 1704 and the bulk of it constructed in 1801 by craftsmen from China’s southern provinces. The architecture conforms strictly to the principles of feng shui, incorporating the fundamental belief that every aspect of life is closely related to attaining perfect harmony with nature. The interior is saturated with symbolism and intricate gold-covered carvings framing the walls and ceilings.
The Cheng Hoon Teng temple ministers to Malacca’s Chinese community, particularly those devoted to the order of San Chiao or the Three Doctrinal Systems of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Photos here show various methods of prayer for the souls of the deceased, as in candles, photos of the deceased and messages on gold, and offerings in the form of mass-produced objects mocking material items they might desire in afterlife.
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Chinese guardian lions, known in the West as Fu Dogs, represent male and female energies, or yin and yang in Chinese philosophical context, supporting the concept of harmony when displayed together. The lion statues are traditionally known in Chinese as Shi, and are usually depicted in pairs at a property entrance or gateway, as they are here at the front entrance to Cheng Hoon Teng temple. Though artistic interpretations and styles may vary, always the male leans his paw upon a ball or similar representation of strength and supremacy, and the female on the right restrains a playful cub representing nurture.
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