By Dai Kai | Singapore Junior Reporter
中文版请点击这里阅读：https://sjr.sg/2025/11/08/16488
Visitors recently explored Chong Wen Ge at 168 Telok Ayer Street, next to Thian Hock Keng Temple, discovering ancient stone inscriptions and experiencing its architectural, culinary, and Nanyin cultural heritage. The modest courtyard features red wooden fences, gilded brackets, solemn columns, and intricate wooden mortise-and-tenon roof structures. A small inner door connects Chong Wen Ge with Thian Hock Keng, reflecting its historical significance.
The courtyard was lively with families, elderly visitors, and tourists. A young couple from the Philippines followed friends’ advice to visit Singapore’s oldest Chinese temple.
Upstairs, visitors photographed inscriptions and played the “As Blessed as Heaven” (如天之福) game, collecting three hidden stamps across Chong Wen Ge and Thian Hock Keng to redeem a small gift. The stamps included “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl” (双龙戏珠), “Establishment of Thian Hock Keng” (建立天福宫碑记), and “As Blessed as Heaven” (如天之福), conveying Mazu’s blessings. Children enjoyed craft activities while observing rubbings of the character “福” and listening to guides explain the inscriptions.
Meanwhile, staff and volunteers prepared for the evening’s Nanyin concert by the Xiang Ling Musical Society (湘灵音乐社). Visitors dined at food stalls from clan associations supporting the Hokkien Cultural Festival, opposite the temple. Some exchanged cash for partial coupons, others used leftover vouchers. Food was freshly prepared, though weekend demand meant some stalls sold out early.
At the Xinghua Bee Hoon stall, a young boy ran over to Teacher Dai from SJR Media (Singapore Junior Reporter Media). He pointed to a news article published last year on the Singapore Junior Reporter website, “Scholarship Recipients Reflect on Tan Kah Kee Spirit.” He had been one of the small interviewees during a Hwa Chong Institution event and was now volunteering at the Anxi Association stall, supporting this year’s cultural festival. Teacher Dai praised his dedication and promise.
The evening concert featured ancient imperial court melodies, performed by young musicians, mostly local Singaporeans, with a few students and working adults from China. All pieces were performed entirely from memory, in perfect synchronization.
The opening piece, “The Birthday of Guanyin” (观音诞), included vocals by Wang Biyu and Lin Shaoling, accompanied by pipa, sanxian, dongxiao, erxian, and dizi, performed by Lin Mingyi, Yang Wanyi, Xiao Mingfeng, Xie Jinxiang, and Chen Junqiang. The second piece, “Before Appearing in Court” (出庭前), was purely instrumental and lasted fifteen minutes. Other pieces included “Wind Strikes the Pear Tree” (风打梨), “Phoenixes in Harmony” (鸾凤和鸣), “Under Heaven’s Paper” (当天下纸), and “Paying Respect to the General” (拜告将军), concluding with “Scenes of the Four Seasons” (四时景), leaving the audience in harmony and calm.
Ms. Ding Meilian, President of the Xiang Ling Musical Society, explained that performers initially relied on musical scores but gradually memorized the pieces. She highlighted that the Nanyin performed by her late father, Mr. Ding Macheng, is traditional court music originating from Quanzhou, and is performed three times each year at Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore. The society continues this tradition to preserve Nanyin and honor the deities during the annual Guanyin festivals. The society has about 20 members and welcomes young locals interested in sustaining Nanyin.
Mr. Xie Jinxiang, erxian performer and youth mentor, has practiced Nanyin for over ten years. He emphasized that weekly group rehearsals foster harmony and discipline among musicians, ensuring the preservation of this traditional art in Singapore.
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