|
 Philippines
Chinese
Buddhist Temple
王彬古迹关圣夫子庙
 The
Philippines Chinese Buddhist Temple,
王彬古迹关圣夫子庙,
is located in
Manila Chinatown and dedicated to General Guan Yu (关羽),
the Chinese General who lived during the
Three Kingdoms period,
三国,
220 – 280 CE.
Founded by the
Chinese population in Manila, the
current temple is built in 1979 and designed in traditional Chinese style. The
foundation stone with names of building committee can still be seen.
General Guan Yu is a guardian deity to the
Taoist and a Bodhisattva to the Buddhist. Although named as a Buddhist Temple,
the temple reflects both Taoist and Buddhist influences, a distinct feature of
Chinese belief systems.
The temple is housed in a high rise building
with direction signs posted along paths leading to the temple to guide visiting
devotees.
The main hall of the temple has a sculpture of
General Guan Yu in the central altar. The general’s son Guan Ping,
关平,
and the general’s assistant Zhou Cang,
周沧
stands by his side.
To the left of the main altar is a sculpture of
the General’s steed, the Red hare steed,
赤兔马.
Devotees pray in the main hall in front of the
General’s sculpture. Most of the prayers are recited in Hokkien, a Chinese
dialect spoken in Fujian where most Philippines Chinese came from.
The temple organizes prayers during important
days commemorating the General such as his birthday, and the day when he is
believed to have attained his status as a Bodhisattva. Prayers are also made for
well being in the family, prosperity in business and peace for the country.
Such institutions allow Chinese population in
Manila to observe important events in their belief system and functions as a
site of cultural reproduction and transmission.
Philippines main page
|
