Jump to content

Snake Temple: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 5°18′50.20″N 100°17′06.71″E / 5.3139444°N 100.2851972°E / 5.3139444; 100.2851972
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
→‎Features: replace photos (i really don't like the date on the bottom right corner)
 
(31 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Chinese temple in George Town, Penang, Malaysia}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox religious building
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Snake Temple<br />蛇庙
| name = Snake Temple
| native_name = {{lang-ms|Tokong Ular}}<br />{{lang-zh|蛇庙}}
| image = Snake Temple, Penang.jpg
| image = Snake Temple, Penang.jpg
| caption = Front view of Snake Temple
| caption =
| location = [[Bayan Lepas]], [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]
| map_caption = Location within [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]
| location = Jalan Tokong Ular, [[Bayan Lepas]]
| map_type = Malaysia Penang George Town city centre
| coordinates = {{coord|5|18|50.20|N|100|17|06.71|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|5|18|50.20|N|100|17|06.71|E|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]]
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]], [[Chinese folk religion|Chinese folk beliefs]]
| district = [[Southwest Penang Island District]]
| municipality = [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]
| state = [[Penang]]
| state = [[Penang]]
| country = [[Malaysia]]
| country = [[Malaysia]]
| established = 1850
| functional_status = Active
| completed = 1805
| architecture_type = [[Chinese temple]]
| architecture_type = [[Chinese temple architecture|Chinese temple]]
}}
}}


The '''Snake Temple''' ({{zh|s=蛇庙|p=Shé Miào|poj=Tsuâ-biō}}) (also called as the '''Temple of the Azure Cloud''') is a [[Chinese temple]] situated in [[Bayan Lepas]], [[Southwest Penang Island District]], [[Penang]], [[Malaysia]]. It was built in the 1850 for [[Qingshui (monk)|Chor Soo Kong]] (祖師公), a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monk.<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|accessdate=11 March 2019}}</ref> Believers from as far away as [[Singapore]] and [[Taiwan]] come to pray in the temple on the monk birthday (the sixth day of the first lunar month). The temple also featured during the 8th leg of [[The Amazing Race 16]] and become a location in Tan Twan Eng's novel "The Gift of Rain" (book 1, chapter 4).
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>

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>


== History ==
== History ==
The temple was constructed in the 1850 to honour [[Qingshui (monk)|Chor Soo Kong]] (also known as Qingshui), a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monk who lived during the [[Song dynasty]] (960–1279) for his numerous good deeds especially in healing the sick and giving shelter to snakes. When the temple structure is 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"/>
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 ==
== Features ==
The temple is filled with the smoke of burning [[incense]] and a variety of [[pit viper]]s. The vipers are believed to be rendered harmless by the sacred smoke, but as a safety precaution, the snakes have 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.<ref>http://www.malaysiasite.nl/snaketempleng.htm</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.penang.ws/penang-attractions/penang-snake-temple.htm#|title=Penang Snake Temple|work=penang.ws}}</ref> 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"/>
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>
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>


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<references />


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline|Snake Temple}}
* {{commons category-inline|Snake Temple}}


{{Places of worship in George Town}}
{{Buddhist temples in Malaysia}}
{{Buddhist temples in Malaysia}}
{{Taoist temples in Malaysia}}
{{Taoist temples in Malaysia}}
Line 34: Line 50:
[[Category:Buddhist temples in Malaysia]]
[[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 completed in 1850]]
[[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]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snake_Temple&oldid=1201652057"