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Fook Tet Soo Khek Temple

Fook Tet Soo Khek Temple, better known as Wang Hai Da Bo Gong Miao, is located at the foot of Mount Palmer at Palmer Road (off Shenton Way). It is one of the earliest Chinese temples and the oldest Hakka institution established in Singapore. 

History
The present temple at Palmer Road was built in 1844, but according to anecdotal accounts, the history of the temple can be traced back to the pre-colonial period, when the early Hakkas who came here erected a shrine to the deity Tua Peh Kong.  As the Hakka community increased in number, a temple was later built on the site.  Although the date of foundation was not recorded, scholars believed that the temple was already in existence by the time Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore in 1819, making it the oldest existing temple in Singapore.

The temple was managed by the clansmen of Hakka associations: Ying Fo Fui Kun and Fong Yun Thai Association. According to temple records, Ying Fo Kongsi and Fong Yun Thai Kongsi each contributed $50 for major repair works to the temple in 1861. The two companies were the biggest donors at that time.  Temple records also state that the temple was registered in 1861 but only obtained the title deed of the land in 1877 by temple trustee Song Huanniang.  As a result of damage to the temple during World War II and wear and tear over the years, the temple underwent major repairs again in 1970.   In 1982, the land was acquired by the government and the temple has been managed under the Temporary Occupation Licence since.

Facing the impending threat of being demolished, the management of the Fook Tet Soo Khek Temple initiated a campaign in recent years to preserve the temple. In January 2006, trustees of the temple sponsored $8300 to a local archaeological team to conduct investigations within the compound and the nearby vicinity of the temple. More than 1000 artefacts were discovered by the team, including some 19th and early 20th century ceramics and glassware and some World War II artefacts left behind by the Japanese and British.  

Description
The architectural characteristics of Fook Tet Soo Khek Temple closely resemble those found in Teochew architecture from Southern China. The covered galleries on both sides of the prayer hall lead to the main hall, with an opened courtyard enclosed within the hall and galleries. This arrangement is similar to the si he yuan courtyard model found in Teochew provinces. All these suggest that Teochew craftsmen were involved in the temples original construction, even though it was built by Hakka immigrants.

The temple also houses several pieces of historical artefacts, including a piece of yun ban (a piece of religious artefact cut into the shape of clouds) dated 1844, a pair of 19th century couplet and unique juan cao ornaments on the rooftop made from cockle shells, which are believed to be the one and only representation of such roof ornaments in Singapore.

Today, the temple continues to attract many devotees of Tua Pek Kong, especially on the birthdays of the deities Tua Pek Kong and Tai Shang Lao Jun on the 16th day of the second month and 1st day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar respectively. 

Variant names
Temples that house the deity Tua Pek Kong are always known as Fook Tet Soo or Fuk Tak Chi.   The Fook Tek Soo Khek Temple is also commonly known as Wang Hai Da Bo Gong Miao, meaning "sea-facing Tua Pek Kong Temple", as it used to overlook the sea until land reclamation project transformed the landscape.


Author
Ivy Lee



References
Ho, P. P., & Chen, P. S. (Eds.). (2006). The Living heritage: Stories of Fook Tet Soo Khek Temple. Singapore: Char Yong (Dabu) Association.
(Call no.: RSING 299.5145095957 LIV)

Xie, Y. Y. (Ed.). (2005). Miao yu wen hua: Xinjiapo di yi ben min su dao lan. Singapore: Focus Publishing Ltd. 
(Call no.: RSING 291.35095957 MYW)

Leong, W. K. (2006, July 27). Group seeks to preserve 187-year-old Taoist temple [Microfilm: NL26960]. The Straits Times, Home, p. 6. 

Lip, E. (1983). Chinese temple architecture in Singapore (pp. 62-63). Singapore: Singapore University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 726.1951095957 LIP)

Mo, M. Y. (2006, February 26). Nao qu gu miao jue bao: Wang hai da bo gong miao [Microfilm: NL26610 ]. Lianhe Zaobao, Zaobao Weekly, p. 15-17.

Southeast Asian Archaeology. (2006). Fort Palmer Road Wang Hai Da Bo Gong Temple archaeology project 2006.  Retrieved February 8, 2007, from http://www.seaarchaeology.com/v1/html/sg/palmer.htm.

Lim, C. S. (2006). Palmer Road Fook Tet Soo Khek Temple archaeological research project preliminary site report. Retrieved February 8, 2007, from http://www.seaarchaeology.com/v1/html/sg/pdfs/Palmer_Site_Report_version_1.4.pdf.

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Religious Buildings
Ethnic Communities
Temples--Singapore
Fook Tet Soo Khek Temple (Singapore)
Arts>>Architecture>>Religious buildings

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