The document provides details about a group assignment to research and report on the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple in Malacca, Malaysia. It includes a list of group members, acknowledgements, objectives of the assignment, research findings about the temple's history and structure, and maps showing its location. The oldest and most notable temple in Malaysia, Cheng Hoon Teng was founded in the 1600s and has historical and cultural significance as the country's relationship with China developed.
3.
TABLE OF CONTENT
No. Title Page
1. Acknowledgements 1
2. Table Of Content 2
3. Introduction 3
4. Objectives Of The Study 5
5. Research Findings 7
6. Travel Journal 18
7. Conclusion 30
8. Appendixes 31
2
4.
INTRODUCTION
This is the only assignment for the Tamadun Islam Dan Tamadun Asia module, which is
to be completed in a group. Below is the list of group members for our group:
1. Muhammad Fareez Bin Shahar Sham
2. Muhammad Mirza Qayyum Bin Mohd Shariff
3. Muhammad Nazmi Bin Kamarulzaman
4. Ng Chuan Kai
5. Ng Jer Vain
6. Ng Ji Yann
7. Ng Kwang Zhou
8. Ng Sheng Zhe
9. Ng Yeen Mun
The task that we were assigned to complete is to provide a group report on historical
sites in Malaysia. It is compulsory for all groups to arrange a site visit to the historical site and it
is completely up to us to select any site that we wish as long as it fulfils the requirements of this
assignment, which in this case the site has to have a significant historical background.
After having a discussion with each and every one of our group members, we have
finally decided choose Chinese civilisation as our topic and we have also selected the Cheng
Hoon Teng Temple located in Malacca as the historical site of our choice. After getting the
approval of our lecturer, Ms. Fadhilah Raihan Lokman, we got to work by arranging a suitable
date for our site visit to Malacca. We agreed to have the visit on the 16th of April and thankfully
everything went by smoothly for us. Immediately after our visit, we divided a section of the report
that is to be completed by each member.
For this part of the report, basically this is the introduction of the Chinese civilization and
also about our site. The Yellow River is said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization, although
cultures originated at various regional centers along both the Yellow River and Yangtze
River alleys millennia ago in the Neolithic era. With thousands of years of continuous history,
China is one of the world's oldest and most technologically advanced civilisation, and is
regarded as one of the cradles of civilisation.
As for the introduction of our site, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is known as Malaysia’s
oldest temple and is also known as Kwan Yin Teng to the local people in Malacca as the main
deity revered is Kwan Yin, which is the Goddess of Mercy. The left altar is dedicated to Ma
Choe Po (Guardian of fisherman and seaman) and the deities on the right altar are Datuk Poh
Seng Tye Tay (Tye Tor Kong) and Datuk Hiap Tian Tye Tay (Kwan Ti God of Justice).From the
records of the stone tablets which was found in the temple, the temple was first built by the
Chinese Kapitan Tay Kie Ki alias Tay Hong Yong in the 1600s
3
8.
RESEARCH FINDING OF CHENG HOON TENG
TEMPLE
Below shows the map of Malacca and the location of the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.
THE COMING OF THE CHINESE TO MALACCA
Malacca is a wonderful place which rich in history and it used to be the original capital of an
ancient Malay Kingdom. Once upon a time before Columbus discovered America, a Ming
Emperor's envoy had arranged China's first trade arrangement with Malacca. Following that visit
trade grew throughout the country. While the Chinese was doing trade, they bought along their
culture, custom and art to this peninsula. The influence can be easily seen in many existing old
temples and landmarks. One of the oldest temple located in Malacca is Cheng Hoon Teng
Temple. The relationship of China and Malacca was very close. In the 15th Century the Sultan
of Malacca sent an ambassador to the court of Peking, returning with the emperor's daughter as
a wifely gift to the Sultan. The princess and her retinue of hand maiden were given the "Bukit
China" as a residence. Some of the oldest Chinese relics extants in Malaysia are found on the
hill which, together with Bukit Gedong and Bukit Tempurong, form one of the largest Chinese
burial grounds outside of China.
7
11.
"MATERIALS USED & ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHINESE TEMPLE"
In the study of this old Chinese temple one should know the basic principles or characteristic of
Chinese architecture. The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple the oldest in Malaysia is approximately
300 years old. The elements found on this building demonstrate the early Chinese Architecture.
The individual buildings can be thought of as divided into a number of elements, elements which
are kept aesthetically distinct by Chinese architects. The podium or base of hard rammed earth
is used for humbler buildings, while podium of stone or brick for the grandeur buildings. The
columns rested on the podium were usually made of timber, but stone and marbles are
sometime mixed with the timber. Another fascinating characteristic of the Chinese architecture is
the method of roof construction. Instead of following the traditional triangular system which is
rigid, they designed it in such a way that it gives freedom in the roof line. The relative position of
the purlins, which control this could be varied so as to be either in the straight line or at any
required curve. The straight roof lines indicates humbler buildings while the curve roof lines
indicates more importance. The climate of China consist of winter and summer. During the
summer the sun is strong, penetrating deep into the temple thus by having the long cantilevered
eaves the sun rays penetration is kept to the minimum. In winter the sun is low thus permitting
the sun to warm the interior of the temple despite the eaves. The eaves is an important element
of the Chinese Architecture in China. With their long overhang supported by toukung or brackets
.Roofs forms were of four types:
(i) the gable end
(ii) the hipped
(iii) fehshai hipped
(iv) the halfhipped and the half gabled.
Proportion of Columns, toukung bracket arrangement and many were determined by rules,
though numerous were all parts of a known REPERTOIRE so that the main pass of the
building could be erected without detailed drawings, only from description and specification of a
typical bay, The walls and partition in most Chinese building were not used to support any load
they were merely screens. One of the most interesting qualities of a Chinese Architecture the
whole building is designed in color as well as in form. The functional basis of painting is the
protection of the timber members from decay and parasites attacks. The aesthetic aim was that
the members played a major part in a totally polychromatic building. The actual colour varied
and their general distribution was: enclosing walls and basic walls, if plastered and not left in
natural material has one color" only either red, white, yellow or black. Columns are usually in
10
12.
one color often, sometimes white. The roofs are also in one colour throughout including the
decorative and symbolic ornament at the ridges and eaves.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
PAILOU
The Pailau of this old temple is a typical example of the type in China. The pailau bear a family
resemblance to the Toranas of India and the Torii in Japan and were erected by special
authority as memorial to deceased persons of distinction. They were constructed of wood or
stone and has one or three openings, formed by parts supporting horizontal rails bearing an
inscription and often crowned with bold projecting roofs of symbolic coloured tiles. The Pai Lou
seen in this temple marks the entrance to one temple.
ORNAMENT
Chinese ornament expresses national characteristics. All Eastern nation appear to have a
natural instinct for colour, and the Chinese are no exception. Colour schemes form an integral
part of Chinese Architecture, roofs are covered with brightly glazed tiles in symbolic colours
while the outstanding ridges and hips are emphasized with highly coloured dragons, fishes and
grotesque figures in glazed terralotta. Coloured ornament is applied to building in the form of
enamelled glazed tiles, painted woodwork, landscape and figure subjects. The Chinese excel in
the minor arts, in silk, cotton weaving, in carving of wood and ivory and in porcelain ware. The
Buddhist religion encouraged their love of mystery and symbolism, and the great yellow dragon
and the tiger were freely introduced into decorative colour schemes.
ROOFS
The roof is the principal features of the Chinese building 7 and contrast strongly with the Greek,
Roman and Renaissance styles, in which they try to hide away the roof. Whereas the Chinese
roofridges are laden with elaborate ornamental cresting and the uptilted angles are finished of
with fantastic dragon and grotesque ornaments. It's considered a sign of dignity to place roofs
one over the other, and this system also serves to protect the interior from extremes of heat.
The purlins of the roofs in the Cheng Hoon Teng temples are supported by the thick walls at
both ends and by the columns at intervals.
COLUMNS
Chinese building procedure as applied to Columns is peculiar, and is the reverse of that in other
countries, for instead of first raising the columns and framing the superstructure upon them, the
Chinese first made the framework of the roof and that determined the position of the columns,
11
13.
while the rigidity of the framework and roof beams should be tenoned direct at the various
height into the shaft, without capitals. The roof beams were supported by brackets.
CHENG HOON TENG ARCHITECTURAL POINT OF VIEW"
This temple is a typical example of a Chinese Architecture as described earlier. At a distance it
seems that the temple is painted in red throughout. As we gets closer, the enclosing walls were
of white plastered. This enclosing walls is 9" thick give protection to the temple against attack
and thieves. The entrance to the interior is through a main gate Pai Lau and two other small
openings one on each side of the main gate. The Pai Lou is a typical of Chinese Architecture
and is fully decorated as demonstrated by brackets designed to support the roof structures. The
roof covering is of ced Chinese tiles and the ridge line is fully decorated with carvings and is
ornamented. Moon shaped window opening with carvings on either sides of the Pai Lau are
characteristics of the Chinese architecture. As one step into the temple area we would find that
the main temple is surrounded by four open courtyards . The roof line runs parallel to the pai
lau. Red tiles covered the roofs supported by purlins and tiles battens. The tiles are arranged
neatly and beautifully as shown in the photos. The roofs of the main temple also runs parallel to
each other and their ridges are fully ornamented. As already mentioned the roofs are not of the
traditional triangular system but were designed in such a way that it allows expansion In plate
13 shows the round timber purlins placed on the rafter, it’s supported by the beautifully carved
brackets. Due to the two struts of the rafters the tile battens can be curved and thus the whole
roof is of a barrel shape. The size of the purlin is 6 inches diameter and the tile battens of
2HMxl" spaced at 2" apart. The tiles can be seen from below through the battens. Plate 15
shows how highly decorated is the roof structures of the porch of the main temple. Carvings of
leaves and flowers on the brackets, together with paintings on the timber beams enhanced the
beauty of the temple. The height of the porch is about fifteen feet (from floor to the beams). The
Columns is of timber above and concrete below is 10' 8" centre to centre. They are 11 inch by
11 inch in dimension. The walls were made of burnt clay bricks 10"x4"x2" thick standard size.
The wall of the main temple is massively constructed with 1'6" thicla. The bricks are then
plastered both internally as well as externally. White paint is applied on to the plaster. At the
back of the temple the wall is decorated with some painting as shown in plate 16. The walls or
rather screens of the front facade of the main temple is made of timber planks. Chengai timber
is used here, carved with flowers and leaves and varnished to protect against decay. Chinese
hand writings also form as a. decorative elements on the door. Note that the door to the main
12
14.
temple comprises of one main entrance and two other secondary doors, one on each side.
These three doors are square headed. There are another two small semicircular headed door
at the side of the temple. Light enters into the temple through these doors and the small
openings in between the carvings. There is no windows or other openings required to light the
area. The dim atmosphere in the temple gives the feelings of concentration and respects.
FLOOR PLAN OF CHEN HOON TENG TEMPLE
PLAN VIEW
The floor plan above shows the space and the position arrangement of the Chen Hoon Teng
temple.The number that located in the boxes shows the position of the goodness located in the
temple and left side are the name list of the goodness in the temple.
"PLANNING OF THE TEMPLE"
The temple occupies an area of 49,510 sq. ft including the theatre at the front. The theatre was
designed for religious purposes. As shown in the plan the temples consists of Main Temple
surrounded by open courts, with two smaller temples one on each side and at the back is the
cave. The Pai Lau marks the main entrance to the temple. As one step into the temple through
the Pai Lau he will have to cross the front open court before could reach the porch of the Main
Temple. The main temple is the place to house the goddess of Mercy Kwan Shih Yin, Kwan Ti,
the god of war and for Machoe Poh the queen of heaven as,the special guardian of sailors,
fishermen and voyagers on the high seas. The main temple has a spacious room without any
partitions, the only partition to be found is used to separate the different gods from one another.
Smaller compartments to house other dieties are found on each side of the main temple
13
15.
separated from the main building by open courtyards. At the back of the main temple are found
two halls meant for the housing of the stone monuments and other Ancestral Tablet. One of the
hall as shown in the plan is for the upper class Chinese while the other is for the poorer or
ordinary folks. In between the two halls is a cave like area, The memorial Hall is located at the
left hand corner of the rear side of the temple. This is the place where the newly deceased soul
is placed and respected by families, relatives and friends. Photos of the deceased are placed
here for a period of one year. Plate 5 shows the hall being prepared and decorated. Beside the
memorial hall is the residential apartments of the monks. The Ceremonial Hall is a new addition.
This is true in a sense that the application of the different technique of construction and the use
of modern material such as having asbestos sheet for ceiling. In this hall is placed the portraits
of Li Kup and other important individuals as a symbol of respect. The wedding ceremony is
often held here
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
The temple continues to serve the spiritual needs of the Chinese community in Malacca. It is a
centre for the propagation of San Chiao or the Three Doctrinal Systems of Taoism,
Confucianism, and Buddhism. The religious order of the temple carries out numerous traditional
Chinese rites. It ministers to the spiritual needs of devotees, including divination and prayers for
the souls of the deceased.
14
27.
Travel Journal (Muhammad Nazmi bin Kamarulzaman)
On Saturday, we all gather at Taylor’s University campus which is our designated meeting point
at around 8:15am. Everyone arrived on time and there was no problem and therefore we started
our journey going to Malacca. During the journey, I went with Fareez Sham, Ng Kwang Zhow
and Jervain. I sat infront and spend most of my time reading a book for my Architecture project.
We took the Seremban Highway and after 1 hour and 30 minutes of driving we reached Jonker
Street, where the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is located. Since we are separated into 2 cars all of
us met again at another place which is the Jonker 88 restaurant which is impressively packed.
The food that is serve exceed my expectation as well as the Asam Laksa is so delicious and
well priced at RM7.50.
After the breakfast,we all walk towards the Temple. It wasn’t that far and while walking we saw a
lot of old and historical building such as the Masjid Kampung Kling, an Islamic praying site and
Sri Poyatha Moorthi temple which is reserved for Hindus. The weather was blazing fire, literally.
At almost 40 degree celcius and high humidity, it make us all wanted to arrive there as fast as
possible and were drenched in sweat. Soon afterwards we finally reach the Cheng Hoon Teng
Temple which is said by the person in charge to be 400 years old. I was impressed!
Furthermore, this visit to the temple allow us to get more insight on Chinese civilization as well
as the local Chinese tradition. At the place when we’re arrived there were quite considerable
number of people praying and a few were visitors. There are even foreign tourist who visit the
temple. Of course, the interior of the temple is well managed. It is more impressive to know that
the whole building did not use nail as with any traditional building of the olden days. Finally after
about several minutes into the temple, we went and take group photos before leaving. We did
not spend a lot of time there as we would not want to disturb the people there (and the weather
is killing us).
After the quick site visit, we decided to have a unique refreshing drinks due to the sunshine. We
went to a shop that specialize in coconut desserts and drinks. The shop is known as Bikini
Toppings and some of their specialties is selling coconut shakes and coconut jelly for a slightly
expensive price. However this is also the point where the group split into two yet again, for
people who wanted to stay a bit longer and those who wanted to return to Taylor’s as soon as
possible. I follow the latter as I had Architectural project meeting to attend to. At around 1pm, we
26