To be honest, this was my first time visiting this Temple of Heavenly Lord, Tien Kong Than in my hometown as a Penangite. Not until my mother wanted to pray there, I would still probably knowing only the exist of this temple. Temple of Heavenly Lord which is known as Tien Kong Than is located at the slope of Penang Hill in Air Itam. It is a Fu Zhou style temple founded by the Hokkien community and is known to exist for 141 years old today dedicating to the Jade Emperor or Tian Gong.
It took us awhile to reach the main entrance of the temple from the car park on the slope where the car park is connected to the Penang Hill cable car station. To reach the main entrance of this temple, you need to climb the granite stairs and if you are not capable of continuous climb, you may take your rest in a pavilion on the halfway towards the temple.
This is the main entrance of the Temple of Heavenly Lord, Tien Kong Than Penang.
Immediately after you enter the front hall of the temple, there are Buddhas of three directions and are flanked by two Dharma protectors. The interiors of the temple are clean and very neat, it is well maintained in short. Upon entering the temple, it made me felt like as if I am traveling backwards in time as the structures of the temple were so antique and fascinating!
Just right outside the hall of the Jade Emperor, the engravings on the ceiling of the pavilion were eye catching. You could see the details of every engravings but what will be in your mind on the meanings behind these engravings? Inside the central shrine of the hall, there sits the sculpture of Jade Emperor and surrounded by Sun God, Moon Goddess, and celestial officials alongside the walls.
The sculpture of the Jade Emperor and celestial officials at one side of the wall.
The scenery from the Temple of Heavenly Lord, Tien Kong Than Penang.
Hopefully on the 9th day of Chinese New Year next year, I would have the chance of being on of the devotees to pay my respect to the Jade Emperor as it is extremely crowded on that day. Penang, is such a wonderful historical state being blessed by the Gods. I am happy yet very proud of being a Penangite, do you?
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