TUA PEK KONG TEMPLE AND 7 STOREY PAGODA, SIBU, SARAWAK
TUA PEK KONG TEMPLE AND 7 STOREY PAGODA
Every prosperous city must have an icon and Sibu in the Malaysian state of Sarawak is no exception. Sibu has its Tua Pek Kong temple, a place of worship adjoining the Rejang River.
Tua Pek Kong Temple in Sibu is an icon of the town with its 7-storey pagoda. Its history dates back to 1870. The temple's namesake, Tua Pek Kong, descends from a deity worshipped by immigrants from Southern China, Tu Ti Gong, whose name was transformed into Tua Pek Kong, or "the Great Uncle" in the Hokkien Chinese language.
In 1897, the temple was rebuilt into a typical Chinese temple designed with tiled roof, stone block floor and all the decorative purlin & fixtures which were imported from China. The statue of Tua Pek Kong deity was specially sculptured and imported from Xiamen, China. After the building was completed, the list of donors and details of expenditure were recorded in two pieces of stone tablet which are still well preserved in the temple.
A statue of Tua Pek Kong stands in the temple grounds, and is associated with a number of miracles. There is a legend behind the construction of this Tua Pek Kong which was back in 1871, while transporting the statue from Xiamen, the ship encountered a storm at the sea.
When the vessel was on the verge of sinking, the sailors saw a kind looking old man sitting on the bow waving his hands at the raging sea. The storm subsided and the journey continued safely to Sibu. On arrival in Sibu, the workers took the statue out of the box and were shocked to see its face resembling that of the old man who pacified the waves.
In 1928, Sibu town, comprising a row of billian shops with atap roofs were gutted. Only the Tua Pek Kong Temple was left untouched. During World War II, the Allied Forces bombed Sibu town. The temple was destroyed but not the Tua Pek Kong Statue. This was regarded as a miracle by the locals.
In 1957, the temple was reconstructed into a concrete structure and was declared open by the then Governor of Sarawak, Sir Anthony Abell. It was a grand occasion for the Sibu Town as the British Royal dignitaries including the Resident attended the ceremony.
In 1979, renovation of both wings of the temple was again being carried out and the roof of temple was changed from belian wood into concrete with glazed roofing tiles; the ridge or roof and column were decorated with traditional dragon and phoenix statues. The renovated building was declared open in 1980.
In 1987, under the generous patronage of the Sarawak State Government and the worshippers, the rear section of the temple was demolished and replaced by a 7-storey Pagoda for the worship of the Goddess of Mercy. This Pagoda building followed closely traditional Chinese Pagoda Architecture. Thus, the temple became a landmark of Sibu. The total expenditure of the building was RM1.5 million and was declared open on 4 May 1989.
The temple and it's recognizable pagoda is a symbol of the sovereign and kindness of the deity for the worshipper and a prime tourist attraction for the town.
Lan Berambeh Ke Sarawak!
