Goddess of Mercy Temple
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The Goddess of Mercy Temple (Chinese: 觀音亭; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Koan-im-têng), also known as Kuan Im Teng or Kong Hock Keong, is a Mahayana Buddhist temple within George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located at Pitt Street, it was built in 1728, making it the oldest Buddhist temple in the state.[1]
Goddess of Mercy Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Buddhism |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Pitt Street |
Municipality | George Town |
State | Penang |
Country | Malaysia |
Location within George Town | |
Geographic coordinates | 5°25′6.398″N 100°20′19.651″E |
Architecture | |
Type | Chinese temple |
Date established | 1728 |
Construction cost | $4,000 (Spanish dollar) |
The temple is dedicated to the Buddhist Bodhisattva of Mercy, Guan Yin. However, it had been originally established for the worship of Mazu, a sea deity.[2][3] Following the establishment of George Town in 1786, droves of Chinese migrants flocked to the city, causing the transition of the temple into one dedicated to Guan Yin by 1800; by then, it also began to function as a neutral mediator between the rival Cantonese and Hokkien communities.[4][5]
While the temple's more secular functions have since been passed on to the Penang Chinese Town Hall, it retains its religious significance amongst Penangites of Chinese descent. It remains a focal point for Chinese festivities such as the annual feast days for Guan Yin and the Jade Emperor's Birthday, attracting devotees from across Southeast Asia.[3][6][7]