Seen Hock Yeen Temple draws devotees from far and wide

The entrance gate to Seen Hock Yeen Confucius Temple.

Seen Hock Yeen Temple is a popular temple for devotees of Confucius, praying for good health, a good marriage partner, for children’s scholastic success or to dispel problems.

On significant occasions such as Confucius’ birthday, the Empress of Heaven’s birthday or the anniversary of the temple’s establishment, devotees flock to the temple in their thousands, many coming in by bus from other states.

Chemor’s version of Japan’s Fushimi Inari Shrine? (Malaysia Traveller pic)

The temple, which has been expanded and improved over the decades since its founding in 1980, comprises various elaborately decorated prayer halls, pavilions, gazebos and covered walkways built around a lake and a lotus pond, formerly the site of a tin mine.

Goddess of Mercy. (Malaysia Traveller pic)

Apart from Confucius, the deities and enlightened beings worshipped here include Buddha, the Goddess of Mercy Guan Yin, Ksitigarbha, the Four Guardian Kings, the Jade Emperor and Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea.

Many deities and enlightened beings are worshipped here. (Malaysia Traveller pic)

Students pray in the chamber dedicated to Confucius for success in their exams and young children crawl under the altar three times to improve their results at school.

Perhaps school children queued here to pick up their rewards for good results. (Malaysia Traveller pic)

There is a counter with windows marked STPM, SPM, PMR and UPSR, complete with queuing number indicators. The temple has in the past distributed cash prizes to top performing students so this may be where they queued up.

Crossing this bridge is said to solve problems and dispel calamities. (Malaysia Traveller pic)

A 70m-long bridge spans the lotus pond. Crossing the bridge is said to dispel calamities and resolve problems. A sign says “Do not cross without permission”, noticed after crossing the bridge without permission from the wrong side.

Does this mean calamities are in store? Anyway, most calamities are either unavoidable (like death) or are self-inflicted (like getting into serious debt or cheating on one’s spouse).

Statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac creatures line one of the walkways. (Malaysia Traveller pic)

Opening hours and admission fees

• Open daily from 8.30am-6pm.
• Admission is free but donations are welcome.
• Parking is free

Ksitigarbha, one of the goddesses of the temple. (Malaysia Traveller pic)

Kuil Seen Hock Yeen
1 1/2km Railway Station Road
Kampung Sik Zainal Tambahan 1
31200 Chemor
Perak

GPS: 4.731532, 101.127266

This article first appeared in Malaysia Traveller

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