Singapore: Let’s take a walk2

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Sri Mariamman

Sultan Mosque

Sago streetSingapore's Chinatown is an ethnic neighborhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese populationChinatown is located within the larger district of Outram

There are four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.

In Chinese, Singapore's Chinatown is known as Niu che shui (literally "bull-cart water") as a result of the fact that, because of its location, Chinatown's water supply was principally transported by animal-driven carts in the 19th century. The name is also echoed in the Malay name, Kreta Ayer, with the same meaning.

Thian Hock Keng Temple was built in 1840 along Telok Ayer street, a bustling meeting point among min businessmen and an important congregation point for Hokkiens.

Upon the completion of Thian Hock Keng, southbound immigrants who had just landed or northbound immigrants heading back to China would always stop by the temple facing the waterfront to pray for calm waves and a safe journey.

The construction of Thian Hock Keng signified the transformation of an immigrant society to one that planted its roots. The temple hailed to be the biggest building island-wide then, took many years of sweet and toil and heavy financial commitments to complete. It was also deemed to be the religious centre for the Chinese community at that time

Today although Thian Hock Keng is primarily a min temple its worshippers are not limited to min descendants. It has transcended dialect boundaries and worshippers are from all walks of life.

Thian Hock Keng was constructed in an architectural style that resembled Chinese palaces.

Thian Hock Keng is a rare temple that encompasses Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. In addition to its main deity, Goddess of the Seas, other deities include Goddess of Mercy and Confucius.

Over the years, it has continued to attract devotees of different dialect groups and is especially crowded during birthday celebrations of deities

After the restoration in 2001, Thian Hock Keng received four awards, including the UNESCO ASIA-PACIFIC Heritage 2001, Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation Building

Goddess of the Seas

The temple’s roofs cape is its crowning glory. It consists of curved ridges, elongated eaves with upturned southern Fujian “shallow tails” and generous ornamentation.

There are shops all along the street

Sago Lane and Sago Street got their name because in the 1840s there were a number of sago factories located there. Sago is taken from the pith of the rumbia palm and made into flour that is used for making cakes both sweet and savoury.

Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Located at the heart of Chinatown The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a popular attraction being a prominent landmark and place of worship.In accordance with The Great Compassionate Vows of The Maitreya Buddha, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Singapore) seeks to be the best Buddhist cultural complex in the region.

The Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic in housed in a magnificent Relic Stupa composed of 420kg of gold donated by devotees.

The architecture, interiors and statuary, are inspired by the Tang Dynasty, an era where Buddhism flourished in China in a golden age of artistic and cultural vibrancy.

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu Doina Grigoraş Lucia Buzdugan

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

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