Hean Boo Thean Temple 玄母殿

Dragon Gate Archway, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Hean Boo Thean Temple 玄母殿 (GPS: 5.40956, 100.33839; Penang Hokkien: Hean3 Boo1 Thean33 ) is a newly expanded Chinese temple at Merdeka Village off Weld Quay, in George Town, Penang. It is perched at water's edge within the reclamation area of Yeoh Jetty.

The principal deity of Hean Boo Thean is the South Sea Bodhisattva Kuan Yin (南海观世音菩萨, Hokkien: Nam3 Hai4 Kuan3 Imm1 Hood3 Chor4), whose feast day falls on the 19th day of the 9th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. In addition there is a host of auxiliary deities venerated here.

The original Hean Boo Thean Temple dates back to 1972, when it was just a humble shrine on stilts, perched over the sea. Due to its amphibious situation, it was often inundated during high tides. In May 2011, Hean Boo Thean underwent a reconstruction and expansion project that was completed in November 2012, at a cost of RM1.5 million. This included renovation and extension, and brought the total floor area of the complex to 12,000 sqft. The temple was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on 2 December 2012.

The new temple building is two storeys tall. It has a Lower Deck and an Upper Deck. At the centre of the Lower Deck is a lotus mural. The main featured on the lower deck is the Central Sanctuary, with prayer hall for a plethora of Chinese deities. The Central Sanctuary is finished with sculptured granite. The entrance has a plaque with the words "Hean Boo Thean" over the lintel, and couplets with gold inscriptions on the jambs.

Supporting the porch of the Central Sanctuary are four Dragon Pillars. In front of the porch is the Altar to the Jade Emperor. The dragons were crafted in bas-relief by artisans brought over from China.

The Upper Deck of Hean Boo Thean Temple features the Main Shrine. Also called Shrine of the Goddess of Mercy, it features the image of the South Sea Bodhisattva Kuan Yin. The approach to the Main Shrine is lined with figurines depicting 24 Tales of Filial Piety.

At the middle of the Lower Deck, aligned to the Central Sanctuary and altar, is a set of double arches. The outer arch is called the Dragon Gate Archway while the inner one the Calm Weather Archway. Flanking the double arches is a pair of pavilions. These are topped with six-sided roofs with sloping ridges. The seaward pavilion is called Kin Rememberance Pavilion while the one facing inland is the Mercy & Compassion Pavilion. To the right of the Dragon Gate Archway is the High Lantern Dragon Column.

The new Hean Boo Thean Temple architecture reflects elements of Southern Chinese architecture. The roof of the Main Shrine has a sloping roof ridge with pointed finials, and topped by a pair of prancing dragons. Also featured on the roof is Fu Lu Shou (福禄寿), the Taoist deities representing attributes of Good Fortune (福, fu), Prosperity (禄, lu), and Longevity (寿, shou).

The Dragon Gate Archway is walled with glass panels, said to permit a view underwater during very high tide. (How that would be possible goes to be seen. From my observation, there are gaps in the panel that would allow water to pass through, flooding the deck at high tide.)

Address

Hean Boo Thean Temple
52, Weld Quay,
10300 George Town, Penang.
Phone: 011 1080 6362

How to reach Hean Boo Thean Temple

Hean Boo Thean Temple is located at the edge of the Merdeka Reclaimed Land, which is off Weld Quay. It is immediately after Yeoh Jetty. I notice some websites showing an incorrect location for Hean Boo Thean, pointing to a site too far inshore. The temple is actually located further out. See the map on this page.

If you are coming from the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal, turn left and head down Weld Quay southwards until you see Taman Harbour View. The road right in front of it is Lebuhraya Merdeka. Look out for the signboard . There are many alleys through the Merdeka Village reclaimed area that will lead to the site.

Video of Hean Boo Thean Temple

The entrance to Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Main Shrine, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


24 Mythical Heroes, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


South Sea Bodhisattva Kuan Yin, Main Shrine, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Lower Deck, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Entrance to the Central Sanctuary of Hean Boo Thean (29 November 2012)


The Central Sanctuary, Hean Boo Thean Temple (3 December 2012)


Altar of the Jade Emperor, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


One of the Dragon Pillars, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Double arches featuring the Dragon Gate Archway and the Calm Weather Archway (29 November 2012)


High Lantern Dragon Column, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


The archways and pavilions of Hean Boo Thean Temple, viewed in the direction of the Clan Jetties (29 November 2012)


Kin Rememberance Pavilion, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Glass paneling of the Dragon Gate Archway on the Lower Deck, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Main Shrine, Upper Deck, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Twelve of the Twenty-Four Tales of Filial Piety at Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Seaward Pavilion, Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)


Roof details at the Main Shrine of Hean Boo Thean Temple (29 November 2012)

Photographing Hean Boo Thean Temple

Hean Boo Thean Temple can be photographed from Chew Jetty , Tan Jetty , Tan Jetty Reclaimed Land , Yeoh Jetty and of course from within its premises. Shooting from Chew Jetty provides you a front view of the temple, whereas the other aforementioned sites afford side views.

Hean Boo Thean Temple, as seen from Yeoh Jetty (29 November 2012)


Hean Boo Thean Temple, as seen from Tan Jetty Reclaimed Land (29 November 2012)


Hean Boo Thean Temple, as seen from Tan Jetty (29 November 2012)


Heah Boo Thean Floating Temple, as seen from Chew Jetty (30 June 2012)

Hean Boo Thean Temple is on the Map of Lebuhraya Merdeka, Penang

List of Chinese Temples in Penang and Chinese Temples in Malaysia

Private Guided Tours of Penang

If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

Adakah anda mempunyai hartanah untuk dijual atau disewakan? Adakah anda ingin membeli atau menyewa hartanah? Hubungi saya. WhatsApp saya (Timothy Tye) di 012 429 9844, dan saya akan menugaskan salah seorang ejen hartanah saya untuk berkhidmat kepada anda. Saya akan pilih ejen untuk anda, mengikut keperluan hartanah anda. Oleh itu, apabila anda menghantar mesej kepada saya, berikan saya beberapa butiran tentang apa yang anda perlukan, sama ada untuk menjual, untuk membeli, untuk disewakan atau untuk disewakan, dan jenis hartanah apakah itu kondo, pangsapuri, rumah, kedai, pejabat atau tanah.

您有待出售或出租的房产吗？ 您想购买或租赁房产吗？ 与我联系。 WhatsApp 我 (Timothy Tye) 012 429 9844，我将指派一名房地产经纪人为您服务。 我会根据您的房产需求，为您选择代理。 因此，当您给我发消息时，请向我提供一些您需要的详细信息，无论是出售、购买、出租还是出租，以及房产类型，是公寓、公寓、房屋、商店、办公室还是土地。

 New Properties in Penang

Looking to buy property in Penang? Get the e-brochures right here without having to visit or contact individual developers.

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Share your travels and/or ask a travel-related question

Join the Penang Travel Tips Facebook Group to share photos, tips and anything related to your travels, or ask travel-related questions.

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Discover with Timothy

Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Songs about Penang

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.