Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum - Wordless Wednesday


A group of my Taiwanese friends flew to Singapore on the second week of Chinese New Year, specially to offer their prayers at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, located in the heart of Chinatown. The S$59-million, 5-storey temple houses a 'Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic' in a magnificent Relic Stupa, made of 420kg of gold donated by devotees. The building also comprises a museum with rare Buddhist artefacts.


The designs of the temple building incorporated the best of Tang Dynasty and the Buddhist Mandala. The temple’s interior decorations and operations incorporate Tang Dynasty motifs and designs where appropriate. Even the staff are all dressed in specially designed Tang uniforms. It is a living cultural monument.

The Tang Dynasty was the era when Buddhism flourished and named the golden age of Buddhist art.

The temple attracted some controversy over the authenticity of its Buddha tooth relic. Imagine raising tens of millions to build an opulent temple to house an animal's tooth.


Exchange S$10 for 100 coins and start dropping them one by one into 100 golden bowls placed along 2 sides of the temple.


At the rooftop garden, you can turn a massive Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel.

Devotees can go to a Dining Hall in the basement where free vegetarian meals are distributed daily.

I'm not a Buddhist, I'm a Christian. Unlike some of my Christian brothers and sisters who cannot tolerate the sight of other religion, I enjoy visiting places of worship be they Chinese temples or Indian temples or mosques. I want to learn more about the culture and history of other races.

288 South Bridge Road (Chinatown)
Opening hours : Mon - Sun 7:00am to 7.00pm

Please kindly abide the following rules when entering the Temple:

1 Wear appropriate attire to show respect, no bare backs, off-shoulders, shorts, mini-skirts etc

2 Strictly no non-vegetarian food and pets inside the Temple







76 comments:

  1. ya, it's good to know and respect about other religions as well. good for you. :)

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  2. You're a very rare Christian. I like people who respect other people's religions.

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  3. You say, "I want to learn more about the culture and history of other races."

    Fantastic! the world is a much better place because of people like you!

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  4. That Buddha reminds me of the Emperor... kekekeke...

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  5. What an interesting place ! I would love to see it ! I don't like people who think Christianity is the only religion. I respect all religions ! What I believe or not is private and nothing is worse than a government who mixes up religion with laws ! State and church should never mix together !

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  6. Hey ECL, I'll be in Singapore this Saturday (1st March) and Sunday (2nd March). We can meet on Sunday for dinner. I have no idea how my itinerary is going to be yet, but likely to be shopping around at Orchard. We can meet somewhere around that area for dinner. I go by anything, prefer not too formal coz' a bit serious and akward. Hehehehe

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  7. Yeah. Despite being a Buddhist, I go to church on invitation from my Christian friends too.

    It's an eye opener. It's not that we go to places of worship of other religions to create havoc. It's good to see how our other friends uphold their believes.

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  8. Thanks for sharing these. Those happy Buddhas made my morning!

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  9. Religious tolerance should be 'preached' by all religions, yet... there we go, again, in the name of.. (fill in the blanks). It's just as bad as football!! I can fully understand cheering for your team, but I really CANNOT understand why people have to BOO the opposition..

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  10. good on ya for not poo-poohing on visiting other religion's places of worship!

    *rub belly for good luck*
    *or so they say wan*

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  11. Wow - nice picture tour! It's nice to experience through the blogs of others places that I'll probably never have the luxury of visiting in person. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. That is one beautiful temple. Thanks for sharing the shots. :)

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  13. The architecture is so interesting and there is so much detail. Have a great week!

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  14. I donch mind going to the temple.. but my mum hor.. she instilled fear in us.. about temples.. and other religions.. so you can see that we grew up .. really like mountain tortoise type.

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  15. What a magnificent building! And yes, even though it celebrates and reveres something I don't believe in either, I can still appreciate the beauty, too. Thanks again for another great tour and culture lesson!!

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  16. ecl, you Christian?

    The only temple I walked in since my last time in Malaysia was the Snake temple! The snake make me want to scream but my sister in law made us all take photo with the snake!

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  17. How awesome. I would love to visit this temple. Have a great WW. :)

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  18. The prayer wheel sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing ;)

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  19. probably something I'll never see in person. thx for sharing.

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  20. It certainly is a fascinating place. Thanks for shareing. Happy WW

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  21. I am always keen to learn how different cultures deal with death, a little morbid or? Maybe because I spent a few years as a young kid growing up in Mexico City, and "day of the dead" was one heck of a party!

    P.S. the area needs more trees! :)

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  22. i've never walked into it but just walk and drive past it, thanks for the short insight of the temple!

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  23. I believe in openness of faith too! Good thing you were allowed to take photos inside the temple...in my experience they usually don't. ;)

    Happy WW!

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  24. I'm still pretty amazed that they built that building for tooth relics.. pretty awesome wor

    My kids will love the coin depositing routine :P

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  25. PS. I'll be waiting for at least another two stinkin' months before I'll see anything like my WW picture! Next month the snow will start to melt (but we'll have a few HUGE snowstorms, too) and in April is when the serious melt happens and roads get washed out, farmers' fields turn into lakes, etc. Towards the end of the month, though, the ground is usually dry in most places. Low-lying areas will still have puddles. May is a huge month for transition from drab, grey, and mucky to vibrant and verdant! You won't believe all the water. I'll for sure post pix for some future WW!

    (Can you even believe people live like this?! Yeah, I can't believe I've put up with it for so long either.)

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  26. So kind you to respect others religion. I've never been to this temple before. It looks magnificient :)

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  27. Happy WW Day! When I was young I had a girlfriend who was a practicing Buddhist. I went to a few of the gatherings and chanted and such. Ah, the things we do for love (or lust?)...

    Today is a big day in US political politics with a debate later tonight. My WW meme focused on Barack Obama ... from boyhood to manhood.

    peace, Villager

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  28. Their temples are undoubtedly beautiful. I do respect other religions as well.

    ----Re:
    My photos were taken in Dallas Texas,where I am currently living.
    I just added a short description!

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  29. Absolutely beautiful!! Happy WW and thanks for stopping by:)

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  30. China is one of place that i longed to visit. Hope i can get there someday. You did great in taking all the photos you have here. Happy WW!

    MY LIFE MY WORLD
    SWEET PARADISE

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  31. Thanks for the photos and insights about religion and culture.

    My post is here if you'd like to visit. :)

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  32. I am free thinker... but i thought going there to take a look. Looks very majestic. Have been too busy lately. But some how I will find time... haha..

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  33. Love the photos. They make me want to see more of the area!

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  34. I'm Christian as well and have been to a Buddist Temple. I enjoy learning about other religions. It was really really cool! This temple is much more grand than the one I went to, but they both are just beautiful!!

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  35. Nice photos. This temple is in Singapore? I did get to experience Chinese New Year in Singapore a few years ago. Rather intense and crowded, but definitely glad I got to see it.

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  36. Very interesting post! I have no particular religion but I respect others' beliefs and enjoy learning about them.
    Great shots for this ww, have a great day!

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  37. Gorgeous pictures! I love the look of that first one.

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  38. Oh... I wish I was there to see all that! I have so many Buddhas in my home! And good for you for respecting others religions! Most people won't do that, which is sad. Happy WW!

    Mine is here: http://blog.mysocalledsite.com/?p=260

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  39. That is a very interesting not so wordless WW!!! And a very beautiful temple! Thanks!

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  40. This temple is really beautiful!! I would love to visit it one day. I would really like to travel the East and enjoy the rich cultural treasures and peace that can be found if one seeks it!!

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  41. love the sharp shots! me too, I like visiting other places of worship (by different cultures) since that way i can learn more about both my religion and theirs!

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  42. beautiful place! am a Christian, too, and I also find it interesting to be visiting different places of worship!

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  43. I love buildings like this...Thank you for sharing them.

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  44. Have you ever wondered how they could afford to make a golden anything like that before?

    It's very interesting!


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  45. Great post, eastcoast! Beautiful photos! An animal tooth? I thought it would be the Buddha's tooth... :)

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  46. It is beautiful. As for being a Christian and enjoying other cultures religions: I think it depends on the situation. I am a Christian and I enjoy looking at other religion's building etc but will not join in worship. :) And yes, we are called to love others and can't do that if we reject them.

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  47. respect for others' beliefs matter a lot.
    nobody could win a debate over religion.

    Morning Sniffles

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  48. hi! i'm catholic, but like you, i have great respect for other religions as well. i don't see why we all can't coexist. :D i have been to so many temples as well and i'm really fascinated by them. i like doing the offerings too and lighting incences. :)

    enjoy the rest of the week!

    here's my entry..in case you have time :D..
    Washing Hands

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  49. that's the intersting places, i love it.

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  50. Amazing what I did learn from this WW entry - not only by great photos, but also from words.
    Great post

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  51. Beautiful and I loved your comment about appreciating other religious areas. There is something truly significant about worship and the understanding of it transcends religious definitions.

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  52. It is very good of you to be respectful of the religions of others. That is not typical. I try to be as well :D
    Verrrry nice pictures in your post! Great job! I especially like the prayer wheel.

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  53. That would be a really fun time to be there. The temple is beautiful.Thanks for visiting.
    Happy WW
    KYla

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  54. I love learning and seeing things about other religions - beautiful photos! :)

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  55. It looks like a very interesting placed to visit! I wish I was able to travel more....

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  56. Super pictures and a good description of the temple.

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  57. Cool photos, thanks for sharing. Mine is up at 4SeasonsOfMYlife. Hope you can visit me too.

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  58. Wow! I'm a Christian too and found this fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing! Great WW!!!

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  59. What a beautiful temple! I am a Christian, but find Buddhism interesting.

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  60. I lived in Singapore for 5 years and went to the American School.

    Thanks for the blast from the past!

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  61. Ah, I love to read about other religions too. I am also a Christian and currently reading on Islamic. I did try to learn a bit more on Buddhism but it is really not that easy.

    I certainly did not know the template is so grand. Must take my mother there when she touches down in Singapore.

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  62. Thanks for sharing, I will visit the temple, perhaps over the weekend.

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  63. that's a interesting place..have a nice weekends

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  64. i rmbr u syaing u're christian then i was surprised u have two posts on temples. hehehehehe. :P now i understand. it's a beautiful temple though! wish i had more time in singapore!!!

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  65. Just drop by to inform all my "hawkers" dat I've closed the kopitiam. Will miss all of you terribly, do take care of yourselves.

    Warm Hugs Owes,
    Kopi Soh

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  66. where do you draw the line with religions? how much do you tolerate and have faith in? if they have nothing to fear, let tests be done on the tooth. all charitable, non-profit and religious organisations must be put to the same financial and social accountability as corporations.

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