Tanki - Gods & Mediums in Singapore

Lengkok Bahru - June 2004

A ceremony at Lengkok Bahru organised by Xia Sheng Gong

12 June 2004

On the way back from fetching my kids from their swimming lessons (6.30pm), I went by Lengkok Bahru. The ceremony is at Block 55. Interestingly, there was also a funeral wake sharing the same place.

From the 'flags' and banners planted along the road, this temple is the "Hup Seng Keng" (Hokkien) or "Xia Sheng Gong". There were a number of lorries decorated. I saw three "sedan chairs". The Nan Xian drums-and-gong group is also there, as I saw the lorry with their banner. There was also a hearse-like vehicle as well.

The temple seems to be celebrating the birthday(?) of the Tua-Li-Ya-Pek (Hokkien).

Did not have the time to stop and observe. The medium was already in trance as I passed by, judging by the crowd and the drums/gongs.

Victor Yue

13 June 2004

I went there at 6+pm. Huge crowd. There were 10 mediums, including a few who were very young - probably 15 or 16 years old. There were possessions by Black/White Wu-changs, Monkey God, Tudi Gong (which I told do not usually possess mediums), Lianhua Taizhi and other deities whose identities I need to reconfirm. I think it was the birthday of GuanGong - indicated by a banner - but I thought the specific date is end of the month. Anyway, I was told that they might want to celebrate it earlier.

There was even a huge empty Taoist coffin which they used in the procession later. It was loaded onto the hearse and was part of the entire entourage.

After the various ceremonies (including self-mutilation and lots of blood), the mediums and helpers got onto lorries, and worshippers (plus me and my friends) got onto coaches (at least 12 of them!!!), and then the whole entourage went to the Jade Emperor Temple in Jurong. Here the mediums followed the lion and dragon dancers (+ sedan chairs) to the temple to pay respect to the Jade Emperor. After that (abt 8ish pm), the whole group set off for other temples. At that point, our stomach got the better of us and we headed downtown for dinner.

Are there any of you guys down there? I think I saw another casual photographer apart from 2 professional ones engaged by the temples.

Wee Cheng

13 June 2004

I did and thanks for the reccommendation, actually missed the ceremonies you mentioned but for me the study of altar setups is more interesting.

In the relaxed aftermath atmosphere had time to chat with the family organising the event. Actually main temple deity is Kwan ti ya, normaly celebrated 5th moon 13th day, but they decided for practical reasons to go early this year. The underworld (seng ong kong) tent was particularly interesting with glorious hell style arrangements, must confess to having special preference to the hell gods, so am most grateful to wee cheng for the tip.

The coffin present belongs to a member of the temple who coincidentally owns a bus repairing outfit so he has the space and inclination to store the coffin there where much good fortune should accrue, again im a lover of chinese traditional coffins and am sympathetic to this tradition of keeping coffins for luck.I dont think the coffin was a part of a funeral ceremony victor, more really an accessory to get devotees into the right mood when approaching the chap puay tee gay/ seng ong tent. took lots of photos of details willing to share with anyone interested .

Thanks again

Ronni.