Tua Pek Kong Temple Explained

Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple
Native Name:	龟屿福山宫大伯公庙
Religious Affiliation:	Taoism, Buddhism
Location:	Kusu Island, Singapore
Festivals:	Kusu Island Pilgrimage
Country:	Singapore
Established:	1923

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) Chinese temple in Singapore, located on Kusu Island. It is dedicated to the worship of deity Tua Pek Kong.

History

Tua Pek Kong Temple is located on Kusu Island, and got its name from Tua Pek Kong. In 2023, the temple celebrated its 100 years anniversary.^[1]

Mythology

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 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]
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.
2 shipwrecked fishermen, a Chinese and a Malay were saved by a giant turtle that transformed into an island.

Worship

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. 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^[4] (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

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. The 9th lunar month is thought to be sacred due to its linkages to the origination myth of Kusu Island. 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 3 October 2024 to 31 October 2024.^[5]

References

News: Ang . Shermaine . 2023-10-15 . Kusu Island comes to life as pilgrimage season kicks off; temple celebrates 100th anniversary . 2024-09-24 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
Lu . Caixia . 2012 . The Kusu Pilgrimage: An Enduring Myth . International Institute for Asian Studies: The Newsletter . 59 . 50–51.
Chia . Jack Meng-Tat . 2009 . Managing The Tortoise Island: Tua Pek Kong Temple, Pilgrimage, and Social Change in Pulau Kusu, 1965–2007 . New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies . 11 . 2 . 72–95.
https://www.travel.taipei/en/pictorial/article/28863
Web site: Kusu Pilgrimage Season 2024 . 2024-09-24 . www.sla.gov.sg.