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A Talk On Temple History, Culture & Practise At Poh Tiong Dian Cho Sian Tng, Singapore

Some eight of us turned up at the Poh Tiong Beo Temple along Lorong 6 Toa Payoh to learn a little more about this temple and the history behind it. Brother Chan was there to provide the background history to the Sung Dynasty of ancient China when the invading Mongols had the Empress Dowager being captured and the young Emperor fleeing south with the help of three faithful members of the imperial court, namely Wen Tian Xiang, Lu Xiu Fu and Zhang Shi Jie. At last, Wen Tian Xiang was caught. Much as the Mongols tried to induce him to join them but he refused and subsequently he was executed. Lu Xiu Fu fled with the little Emperor and brought him through Teochew County in Guandong Province. But unfortunately Lu Xiu Fu was caught and then he committed suicide with the young Emperor within the vicinity of Shenzhen today. Meanwhile, Zhang Shi Jie was drowned during the fight with the Mongols. His body floated up to a little village in Tong An County of Fujian Province.
Brother Andy Yeo shared with us that he has been involved in this temple since the age of 6. It is believed that the original shrine of this temple was started in the 1920s. The first known place of the altar was No.8 Nankin Street, the original coolies den where the Chinese migrants from Tong An County brought the statue of Zhang Shi Jie from their hometown to worship here after settled down. The existing temple at Toa Payoh was built in early 90s. Poh Tiong Beo’s main deity is Zhang Shi Jie. Chwee Hian Keng which located along Zion Road is dedicated to Wen Tian Xiang. Lu Xiu Fu is worshipped by a related temple in Malacca State of Malaysia.

I took over in explaining on the unique features of this temple. At the entrance to the temple, there is seven stars on the floor where one could step on each star with the left leg first and then stabilising with the right foot to stand still and ending at the pakua where one will stand on it and make a bow with both hand forming a taiji sign to the deities of the temple. This is one of the movements that help ones to leave behind bad luck and to get fresh and positive energy in return. I also shared with them a story about how the students and undergraduates in China and Taiwan would flock to the Poh Tiong Beo there to pay respects to the San Zhong Wang (three loyal imperial court officials), where two of them were equivalent to the portfolio of Prime Minister today and another one was a tutor to the Emperor. It was saying that in the old days, the students were very poor and had no light to help them study at night. One student went to the Poh Tiong Beo to "borrow" some oil for his lamp to continue his study at home. He passed the imperial examination with high score and since then many people followed his steps.
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