Religious Buildings in Malacca (Melaka), Malaysia: Chinese Temples

(Click on the pictures to obtain larger images, which take longer to download.) Photographs © George P. Landow. Images may be used without written permission for any educational purpose. Any commercial or other use requires prior written permission.

The Merciful Cloud Temple

According to Jo Chua from the temple office, "Cheng Hoon Teng Temple Incorporated has its early beginnings in the seventeenth century and was incorporated in Parliament in 1949. The literal name of the temple is Green (Cheng) Cloud (Hoon) Temple. As the main deity of the temple is Kuan Yin, it is also known as Kuan Yin Teng. All Chinese pronunciations are in the Hokkien dialect, reflective of the proposers of the temple from its humble beginnings to the present day grand temple. The importance of the temple in the life of the community is reflected in the name of the street which is TEMPLE STREET or JALAN TOKONG. Jalan Hang Jebat is the name of the street behind the temple.

"The rebuilding of the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple's main prayer hall in 1801 was done under the supervision of the eighth Chinese Kapitan of Malacca, Kapitan Chua Su Cheong who was the ancestor of Chua Lip Kok.

"Please fell free to contact me for any information/clarification on the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple at the temple's office at Jo Chua, 25, Temple Street, 75200 Malaccca. Phone: 06-2829343, Fax: 06-2861889. "

Behind the main structure, and sharp contrast to the gloomier memorial chapels on either side whose cabinets were packed with memorial tablets, some bearing tiny photographs of departed relatives, is the garden of many Buddhas -- an unsheltered diorama of various forms (or experiences) of the Buddha.

A view of the roof of another temple at the junction of Temple Street with Portuguese Street. This temple was built later by a Chinese Philantrophist, Chua Lip Kok. (Jo Chua)

Last modified 14 January 2002