In one of the Chinese streets near the centre of Singapore is the Thian Hock Keng temple.
In Chinese: 天福宮 ; pinyin : Tiānfú Gōng ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī.
Thian-hok-keng or Tianfu Temple, literally "Palace of Heavenly Happiness", is a temple built to worship Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, in Singapore. It is the oldest and most important temple of the Hokkien (Hoklo) people in the country. (text taken from Wikipedia).
These views are from 1989. Some parts have undoubtedly been modified since then.
As I know nothing about Chinese religious mythology, I have not been able to assign any relevant legends to the different parts of this temple.
In the second part of this page, other views of the Chinese presence in Singapore.
![Dragon roof at the Thian Hock Keng Chinese temple in Singapore in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur Dragon roof at the Thian Hock Keng Chinese temple in Singapore in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing01v01a89.jpg)
Dragon roof at Thian Hock Keng Chinese temple
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing01v01a89
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![Dragon on the roof of the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur Dragon on the roof of the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing01v02a89.jpg)
The dragon on the roof of the Thian Hock Keng Chinese temple
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing01v02a89
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![Monks with golden chasubles at the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur Monks with golden chasubles at the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing17v05a89.jpg)
On the other door of the Thian Hock Keng temple,
these two monks in golden chasubles
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing17v05a89
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![Flying fish in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Flying fish in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing03v11a89.jpg)
On the granite door jambs, this light flying fish
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v11a89
![Lion and mini lion in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Lion and mini lion in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing03v09a89.jpg)
The lion and its mini lion (?),
on these same temple walls
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v09a89
![Dragon on the mler in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Dragon on the mler in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing03v10a89.jpg)
Dragon rising above a sea-touched landscape, with its bestiary.
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v10a89
![Entrance to the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Entrance to the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v03a89.jpg)
The entrance to Thian Hock Keng temple.
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v03a89
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![Young Singaporeans saying their prayers in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Young Singaporeans saying their prayers in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v01a89.jpg)
Young Singaporeans praying, burning them in the temple oven.
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v01a89
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![Altar to one of the gods of the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Altar to one of the gods of the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v07a89.jpg)
Inside the temple, an altar to one of the gods.
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v07a89
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![Goddess altar at the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Goddess altar at the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v08a89.jpg)
Another altar, this one to one of the goddesses (?).
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v08a89
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![Monk at the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Monk at the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v09a89.jpg)
Detail inside the temple : a monk...
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v09a89
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![Buddha at the temple of Thian Hock Keng in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Buddha at the temple of Thian Hock Keng in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v10a89.jpg)
In his glass cage, a Buddha (?), with his bowl of incense sticks
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v10a89
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![Multiform bestiary of the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Multiform bestiary of the Thian Hock Keng temple in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v05a89.jpg)
In one of the display cases at the entrance to the temple, offerings to a multiform bestiary..
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v05a89
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![Animal heads in the temple of Thian Hock Keng in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Animal heads in the temple of Thian Hock Keng in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v06a89.jpg)
Heads of two of the animals on their altar.
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v06a89
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![Black-faced figures in the temple of Thian Hock Keng in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Black-faced figures in the temple of Thian Hock Keng in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/ch-d120sing02v04a89.jpg)
And in another window, two figures with black faces.
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing02v04a89
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![A painting of Singapore Island above a Singapore door - © Norbert Pousseur A painting of Singapore Island above a Singapore door - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing03v05a89.jpg)
Above a door in the streets of Singapore, a representation of the Island of Singapore
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v05a89
The same, with clipping of the island of Singapore
![A painting of the island of Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur A painting of the island of Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/d120sing03v05a89-b.jpg)
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![Mini-prayer altars in a Singapore street in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur Mini-prayer altars in a Singapore street in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing03v03a89.jpg)
Mini-prayer altars on the pillars of an old building
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v03a89
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![Mini-prayer altar in a Singapore street in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur Mini-prayer altar in a Singapore street in 1989 - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing03v04a89.jpg)
One of the mini-altars : sentence, incense sticks...
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v04a89
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![Painted panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur Painted panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing03v06a89.jpg)
Painted panel above an old door :
two figures and a bird on a branch
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v06a89
Detail
![The figures on the panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur The figures on the panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/d120sing03v06a89-c.jpg)
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![Like a stage set in a panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur Like a stage set in a panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing03v07a89.jpg)
Above another porch of a house, like a theatre stage
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing07v07a89
Détail
![Detail of a panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur Detail of a panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/d120sing03v07a89-b.jpg)
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![Plaster relief panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur Plaster relief panel above an old door in Singapoour - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing03v01a89.jpg)
In light plaster relief, this very subtle door panel decoration
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing03v01a89
![Singaporean Eagle in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur Singaporean Eagle in Singapore - © Norbert Pousseur](ill650/chr-d120sing04v02a89.jpg)
Singaporean eagle, probably erected under the British protectorate
Singapore 1989 - Dia 6x6 - d120sing04v02a89
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