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Buddha Tooth Temple

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Drever
Drever
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5 out of 5
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A Must-see If Interested in Chinese Architecture and Culture

  • April 16, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Drever from Ayr
A Must-see If Interested in Chinese Architecture and Culture

This four-storey Temple sits majestically just down from the Scarlet Hotel at the edge of China Town. It is the biggest Buddhist temple in Singapore and one of the holiest shrines in the Buddhist world. A Chinese cultural complex it holds the Sacred Dendrobium Buddha Tooth and Relics, as well as many rare Buddhist artefacts on exhibition in its Museum.

The Tang Dynasty inspired the architecture, interiors and statuary, an era when Buddhism flourished in China in an age of artistic and cultural vibrancy. Construction of the temple began in 2004 and finished in early 2007. It cost $50 million.

Visitors are welcome as long as they follow some basic etiquette. Men should wear long trousers and women’s skirts should come well below the knee (although a sarong wrapped over shorts is acceptable) and no bare shoulders. Do not bring non-vegetarian food or pets inside the Temple. You can take photographs or use a camcorder, however it is bad manners to pose with your back to a statue of the Buddha, so please act with respect.

As I entered the 27 feet high hall on the first floor I stood in awe of a 15-feet carved wooden Maitreya Buddha. One hundred Buddhas in various spiritual poses on both sides of the hall and 100 dragons hovering above them added to my awe. From the grandeur and fine detail seen in this hall alone, visitors can recognise the work of dedicated craftspeople that contributed their skills to building this Temple.

This is a place of ardent warship. All day-long monks in this hall chant a mantra to the Buddha.

The second floor is the Exhibition Hall is where you can learn about Buddhist. If you still crave for more, go up to the Buddhist Culture Museum on the third floor. It is hard after working through the history and beliefs of different religions not to think that all religions have a common thread. The thought struck me again here as it has done in other temples. The common thread is to do with bringing out the best in humanity – the reverse often happens!

Up on the fourth floor sits the Buddha Tooth Relic inside a two-metre 420kg solid-gold stupa in a dazzlingly ornate room. The hall glitters with gold. Besides the stupa, the canopy above it and the tiles on the floor also carry gold veneer. At 10:30 and 19:30, the monks hold ceremonies to open the chamber.

Also worth seeing are the peaceful rooftop garden, where a huge prayer wheel sits inside a Buddha Pavilion. Growing here are pure elegant blooms of the Dendrobium Buddha Tooth, an orchid species specially named after the temple. Visitors can also rest and enjoy refreshing tea and healthy vegetarian snacks in the cosy Lotus Heart Tea House on the 2nd floor or visit the Dining Hall in the basement where free vegetarian meals are available daily.

A shop on the ground floor allows visitors to buy various items, including the Dendrobium Buddha Tooth orchid and books, CDs, handicrafts and commemorative souvenirs.

The temple is a must-see for anyone interested in Chinese architecture and culture.

From journal A Two Day Stopover in Singapore

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