A Garden of Lanterns

Chinese New Year has never been more interesting with an exhibition of lanterns at the Tambun Kwan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) Temple in Ipoh. The 20-day event, which was organised by the temple began on the 21st January 2009 just before the Lunar new year began. The lanterns featured were gigantic characters of Chinese deities, zodiac animals and based on Chinese literary themes. Named as the Tambun Kwan Yin Giant Lantern Expo 2009, visitors might also take the opportunity to join a karaoke singing contest and lucky draw as well as witnessing a talented painter at work. The colourful lanterns and the beautifully lit atmosphere had certainly made the long journey (at the edge of town) worthwhile for shutterbugs and children alike.

The attractive grand gate

Rows of red lanterns leading to the entrance

The 8-metre tall giant lantern

Lanterns of the 12 zodiac animals:(From R to L) Mickey, Tigger, Bugs Bunny, Draco, Viper, Shadowfax, Billy, Aboo, Chicken Little, Lassie and Babe welcoming The Ox.

Under the sea

Serene storks

In the garden



Flower power!

Talented artist at work: A painting of Kwan Yin

Handicrafts corner

Beautifully-lit tree

Legend has it, Kwan Yin was a princess and a daughter of a cruel king. She was punished harshly by her father for disobeying his wishes to marry a suitor of his choice as she was more concerned with the sufferings of her people. Ironically, she tried to save his life when he fell ill. She made a sacrifice for his healing to God. God was touched and turned the king into an ox and her into the Goddess of Mercy to watch over the sufferings of the world. To avoid her father of being slaughtered, she requested her people not to eat beef. Perhaps that is the reason behind why Buddhists do not take beef till this day.

Kwan Yin (Goddess of Mercy)

The story started where there was a boy who lived with his mother. He was a woodcutter. Although his mother sent lunch to him daily, he treated her badly. One day as he was taking a break, he saw a mother bird feeding her chicks in a nest up a tree. As he observed this, he realised that his mother actually loved and cared for him very much that she brought food to him everyday without fail. From that moment, he decided to appreciate her more. So the next day when his mother came to bring him lunch, he ran to greet his mother with all the happiness in his heart. When she saw him running towards her, she thought that he was going to beat her again and so she ran. Unfortunately, she tripped over a stone and fell to her death. After his mother's passing, he was in an unkempt state as he cried daily without a care for himself. Seeing this, God took pity on him for his filial piety and made him into God of Wealth. One of the stories my mother would tell me in my childhood days.

Sometimes, you will see a statue of him in this state in the temples, with dishevelled clothes and hair and a tear-stained face holding a fan. I have seen him.

The God of Wealth

The legend of the Journey to the West is a very popular Chinese folklore and has been depicted in various versions through books and in movies. It tells of a tale of a Buddhist monk assigned to a task by Kwan Yin to acquire a certain Buddhist scripture in India. Together on this journey were his protectors, the Monkey God, a pig and a sand demon. They have agreed to protect him on this perilous journey for the atonement of their past sins. They also acted as his disciples as the monk would guide them when they gave in to their sinful desires or save their skins when troubles arose from their mischievious pranks. There were many dangers along the way such as the spider demon, the white-boned demon, the buffalo- king demon and the iron-fan princess, just to name the infamous ones. They were waiting to devour the monk as the flesh of monks is believed to be most sweet, tender and succulent.

Journey to the West: Let us through!