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Coordinates: 5°18′50.20″N 100°17′06.71″E / 5.3139444°N 100.2851972°E / 5.3139444; 100.2851972
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{{Short description|Chinese temple in George Town, Penang, Malaysia}}
{{Unreferenced|date=April 2011}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox Mandir
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Snake Temple<br>蛇庙
| name = Snake Temple

| image = Snake Temple, Penang.jpg
| native_name = {{lang-ms|Tokong Ular}}<br />{{lang-zh|蛇庙}}
| caption = Front view of Snake Temple
| image = Snake Temple, Penang.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption =
| map_caption = Location within [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]
⚫
| pushpin_map = Malaysia
| map_caption = Location in Malaysia
| location = Jalan Tokong Ular, [[Bayan Lepas]]
| map_type = Malaysia Penang George Town city centre
| coordinates_region = MY
⚫
| coordinates = {{coord|5|18|50.20|N|100|17|06.71|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_display= title
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]], [[Chinese folk religion|Chinese folk beliefs]]
| other_names =
| municipality = [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]
| proper_name =
| devanagari =
| state = [[Penang]]
⚫
| country = [[Malaysia]]
| sanskrit_translit =
| tamil =
| functional_status = Active
| marathi =
| completed = 1805
| architecture_type = [[Chinese temple architecture|Chinese temple]]
| bengali =
| country = [[Malaysia]]
| state = [[Penang]]
| district = [[Bayan Lepas]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| primary_deity =
| important_festivals=
| architecture = [[China|Chinese]]
| number_of_temples =
| number_of_monuments=
| inscriptions =
| date_built = 1850
| creator = [[Qingshui (monk)|Chor Soo Kong]] (祖師公)
| website =
}}
}}


The '''Snake Temple''' ({{zh|s=蛇庙|p=Shé Miào|poj=Tsuâ-biō}}), also known as the '''Temple of the Azure Clouds''',<ref name="Snake temple background">{{cite web|url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/a-tour-of-the-snake-temple-1629643|title=A Tour of the Snake Temple in Penang, Malaysia|author=Gregory Rodgers|publisher=TripSavvy|date=30 May 2018|access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> is a [[Chinese temple architecture|Chinese temple]] within [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] in the [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|Malaysian state]] of [[Penang]]. Located at [[Bayan Lepas]], the temple is well-known for being a refuge of resident [[Snake|snakes]], said to be reincarnated disciples of the [[Shen (Chinese religion)|deified]] [[Buddhist monk]] [[Qingshui (monk)|Master Qingshui]], to whom the temple is dedicated.<ref name="Snake temple background"/><ref name="Snake temple features">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2005/07/09/new-lure-at-snake-temple-in-penang/|title=New lure at snake temple in Penang|author=Choong Kwee Kim|work=The Star|date=9 July 2005|access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref>
The '''Snake Temple''' ({{zh|s=蛇庙|p=Shé Miào|poj=Tsuâ-biō}}) is situated in [[Sungai Kluang]], [[Bayan Lepas]], [[Penang]], [[Malaysia]] and is perhaps the only [[temple]] of its kind in the world. The temple is filled with the smoke of burning [[incense]] and a variety of [[pit viper]]s. The [[Viperidae|viper]]s are believed to be rendered harmless by the sacred smoke, but as a safety precaution, the [[snakes]] have also been de-venomed but still have their [[fangs]] intact. Visitors are warned against picking up the [[reptiles]] and placing them on their bodies to take pictures. Local devotees believe the temple's snake population comes there of its own accord.


Devotees from as far away as [[Singapore]], [[Taiwan]] and [[China]] come to pray in the temple on the monk's birthday (the sixth day of the first [[Chinese New Year|lunar month]]).<ref name="Penang snake temple">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehive.asia/2016/01/famous-places-to-visit-in-malaysia.html|title=Famous places to visit in Malaysia: Penang|author=Erny Suzira|publisher=The Hive Asia|date=10 January 2016|access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> It was also featured during the 8th leg of ''[[The Amazing Race 16]]'' and become a backdrop of [[Tan Twan Eng]]'s novel "The Gift of Rain" (book 1, chapter 4).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1219949.The_Gift_of_Rain|title=The Gift of Rain|author=Tan Twan Eng|author-link=Tan Twan Eng|via=[[Goodreads]]|access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref>
The temple was built about 1850 in memory of [[Qingshui (monk)|Chor Soo Kong]] (祖師公), by a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[monk]]. Chor Soo Kong (also known as Qingshui) was born in China with the surname Tan (陳昭應 or Tan Chhiau-eng) in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). He was serious about seeking spiritual attainment and was ordained at an early age. According to legend, Chor Soo Kong was also a healer and sometimes gave shelter to the snakes of jungle. When he died at age 65 after a lifetime of good deeds, he was awarded the honorific title Chor Soo, that of an eminent figure revered generation after generation. After the construction of the temple, snakes reportedly appeared by themselves. The temple was originally called the "Temple of the Azure Cloud" in honor of the beauty of Penang's sky.


== History ==
Believers from as far away as [[Singapore]] and [[Taiwan]] come to pray in the temple on Chor Soo Kong's birthday (the sixth day of the first lunar month).
The temple was constructed in the 1805 to honour [[Qingshui (monk)|Chor Soo Kong]] (also known as Master Qingshui), a [[Buddhist monk]] who lived during the [[Song dynasty]] (960–1279) for his numerous miracles and good deeds especially in healing the sick and giving shelter to snakes.<ref name="Snake temple background"/><ref name="Snake temple features"/> When the temple structure was completed in the 1800s, snakes coming from the species of ''[[tropidolaemus wagleri|Wagler's pit viper]]'' reportedly appeared by themselves.<ref name="Snake temple background"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Clive Roots|title=Nocturnal Animals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YlUQPtK8J9kC&pg=PA39|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-33546-4|pages=39–}}</ref>


== Features ==
The temple was featured during the 8th leg of [[The Amazing Race 16]].
The temple is filled with the smoke of burning [[incense]] and a variety of [[pit viper]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2017/07/257766/penang-scotsmans-legacy|title=A Penang Scotsman's legacy|author=Alan Teh Leam Seng|publisher=New Straits Times|date=16 July 2017|access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> The [[Viperidae|vipers]] are believed to be rendered harmless by the sacred smoke, but as a safety precaution, the snakes have been de-venomed while still retaining their fangs.<ref name="Snake temple features"/><ref name="Penang snake temple"/> Other species of snakes also available in the temple.<ref name="Snake temple features"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2011/04/23/python-the-star-attraction-at-snake-temple/|title=Python the star attraction at Snake Temple|author=Anthony Tan|work=The Star|date=23 April 2011|access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> Visitors are warned against picking up the [[reptiles]] and placing them on their bodies to take pictures. Aside from the snakes, two brick wells known as the "Dragon Eye Wells/Dragon Pure Water Wells" are located inside the temple together with two giant brass bells.<ref name="Snake temple background"/> In 2005, a snake breeding centre was set up in the temple.<ref name="Snake temple features"/>


<gallery>
The temple is a location in Tan Twan Eng's novel "The Gift of Rain" (book 1, chapter 4).
File:Snake Dance.jpg|Snake dance in the temple compound during night.
File:Snake Temple exterior.jpg|The temple exterior.
File:Snake Temple center interior.jpg|[[Pit viper|Viper snakes]] inside the temple.
</gallery>


==See also==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
⚫
{{commons category|Snake Temple}}
* [[Malaysian folk religion]]


== External links ==
⚫
{{coord|5|18|50.20|N|100|17|06.71|E|region:MY-07_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}
⚫
* {{commons category-inline|Snake Temple}}


{{Places of worship in George Town}}
{{Buddhist temples in Malaysia}}
{{Buddhist temples in Malaysia}}
{{Taoist temples in Malaysia}}
{{Malaysian historical architectures and sites}}
{{Malaysian historical architectures and sites}}


[[Category:Religion in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Chinese-Malaysian culture]]
[[Category:Buddhist temples in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Taoist temples in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Taoist temples in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Places of worship in Penang]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Penang]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1805]]
[[Category:19th-century Buddhist temples]]

Latest revision as of 03:13, 1 February 2024

Snake Temple
Malay: Tokong Ular
Chinese: 蛇庙
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism, Taoism, Chinese folk beliefs
StatusActive
Location
LocationJalan Tokong Ular, Bayan Lepas
MunicipalityGeorge Town
StatePenang
CountryMalaysia
Snake Temple is located in Central George Town, Penang
Snake Temple
Location within George Town
Geographic coordinates5°18′50.20″N 100°17′06.71″E / 5.3139444°N 100.2851972°E / 5.3139444; 100.2851972
Architecture
TypeChinese temple
Completed1805

The Snake Temple (Chinese: 蛇庙; pinyin: Shé Miào; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tsuâ-biō), also known as the Temple of the Azure Clouds,[1] is a Chinese temple within George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at Bayan Lepas, the temple is well-known for being a refuge of resident snakes, said to be reincarnated disciples of the deified Buddhist monk Master Qingshui, to whom the temple is dedicated.[1][2]

Devotees from as far away as Singapore, Taiwan and China come to pray in the temple on the monk's birthday (the sixth day of the first lunar month).[3] It was also featured during the 8th leg of The Amazing Race 16 and become a backdrop of Tan Twan Eng's novel "The Gift of Rain" (book 1, chapter 4).[4]

History

[edit]

The temple was constructed in the 1805 to honour Chor Soo Kong (also known as Master Qingshui), a Buddhist monk who lived during the Song dynasty (960–1279) for his numerous miracles and good deeds especially in healing the sick and giving shelter to snakes.[1][2] When the temple structure was completed in the 1800s, snakes coming from the species of Wagler's pit viper reportedly appeared by themselves.[1][5]

Features

[edit]

The temple is filled with the smoke of burning incense and a variety of pit vipers.[6] The vipers are believed to be rendered harmless by the sacred smoke, but as a safety precaution, the snakes have been de-venomed while still retaining their fangs.[2][3] Other species of snakes also available in the temple.[2][7] Visitors are warned against picking up the reptiles and placing them on their bodies to take pictures. Aside from the snakes, two brick wells known as the "Dragon Eye Wells/Dragon Pure Water Wells" are located inside the temple together with two giant brass bells.[1] In 2005, a snake breeding centre was set up in the temple.[2]

  • Snake dance in the temple compound during night.
    Snake dance in the temple compound during night.
  • The temple exterior.
    The temple exterior.
  • Viper snakes inside the temple.
    Viper snakes inside the temple.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Gregory Rodgers (30 May 2018). "A Tour of the Snake Temple in Penang, Malaysia". TripSavvy. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Choong Kwee Kim (9 July 2005). "New lure at snake temple in Penang". The Star. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Erny Suzira (10 January 2016). "Famous places to visit in Malaysia: Penang". The Hive Asia. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  4. ^ Tan Twan Eng. "The Gift of Rain". Retrieved 11 March 2019 – via Goodreads.
  5. ^ Clive Roots (2006). Nocturnal Animals. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-0-313-33546-4.
  6. ^ Alan Teh Leam Seng (16 July 2017). "A Penang Scotsman's legacy". New Straits Times. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  7. ^ Anthony Tan (23 April 2011). "Python the star attraction at Snake Temple". The Star. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
[edit]
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