Hai Tang Ma Temple 海東媽廟, Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam

Hai Tang Ma Temple in Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam (17 July 2015)


Hai Tang Ma Temple (GPS: 5.348107, 100.522123; Traditional Chinese: 海東媽廟, Simplified Chinese: 海东妈庙, Penang Hokkien: Hai1 Tang3 Mak1 Beo33) is a big Chinese temple in Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam. It is located near the border between Penang and Kedah. The name of the temple translates as "Temple of the Mother of the Eastern Sea", a honorific given to the patron deity of the temple, Thean Hou (天后, Pinyin: Tiānhòu, Penang Hokkien: Thean1heo33, English: "Empress of Heaven"), who is also popularly known as Mah1cor4 (嬷祖, English: Mazu, Pinyin: Māzǔ).

Visitors to Hai Tang Ma Temple enters through its grand arch emblazoned with the name of the temple, 海東媽. There is a second arch further away, at the entrance of the temple's religious-themed park.

The Grand Arch of Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)


Hai Tang Ma Temple was designed in the traditional Southern Chinese temple style. It is painted different shades of red. The front porch has an ornate roof supported by four columns. Through the door one enters the outer prayer hall where the image of Thean Hou is installed, with the words 天后聖母 Holy Empress of Heaven on the altar table.

The doorway into Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)


Hai Tang Ma Temple, Machang Bubok (17 July 2015)


Behind the outer prayer hall is the central court of Hai Tang Ma Temple. There are shrines facing each other here, installed with other deities.

Central court of Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)


On both sides of the central courtyard are moon-shaped arches which lead to auxiliary quarters of the temple, holding the canteen and toilets.

Moon-shaped arch at the central court of Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)


In one of the side chambers of the temple are tables with packs of joss sticks. These are probably for sale to devotees coming to worship. Behind it is a row of photographs, probably of present and past committee members of the temple.

Packs of joss sticks at Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)


On the rear chamber of Hai Tang Ma Temple is are the ancestral tablets. The tablets are arranged in a multi-tier glass-fronted case.

Glass case for the ancestral tables at Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)


Facing Hai Tang Ma Temple is the theatre where performances are staged for the pleasure of the deities on their birthdays. The wooden theatre is raised from the ground on square columns. By the side is a staircase for the performers to enter and exit the stage.

The theatre where performances are staged for the gods (17 July 2015)


There's more to Hai Tang Ma Temple than just the temple proper. A short distance from the grand arch is a pavilion linked to the sides by bridges.

Pond with pavilion at Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)


Further on, there is a religious-themed park with various sculptures. There is a full set of the Chinese zodiac. Towering over the park is a statue of the goddess Mazu. Another set of sculptures depict the monkey god and the monk Xuanzang from Journey to the West.

Timothy Tye with the Journey of the West sculpture set at Hai Tang Ma Temple (17 July 2015)

The Hai Tang Ma Temple is on the Map of Machang Bubok, Seberang Perai

List of Chinese Temples in Penang and Chinese Temples in Malaysia

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