Jade Emperor's Pavilion
Jade Emperor's Pavilion or 'Thni Kong Tnua' in Hokkien, is a Taoist temple at
the foot of Penang Hill in Air Itam, Penang. The
biggest Jade Emperor's birthday celebrations will take place here on the 9th day
of Chinese New Year. In fact, celebration started on 8th night of Chinese New
Year.
As the name suggests, the Jade Emperor's Pavilion is dedicated to the worship of
the Jade Emperor, or Thni Kong. The term Thni Kong means Supreme Ruler of Heaven
(Yu Huang Da Di). This is the most important deity in the Chinese Taoist
pantheon, and is regarded as the king of heaven.
The worship of the Jade Emperor is traced to as early as the 9th century AD,
when he was the patron deity of the imperial family.
As with most Taoist deities, the origin of the Jade Emperor is shrouded in
mythology. He is said to have been born a crown prince of one "kingdom of pure
felicity". Upon the death of his father, he ascended the throne. He underwent
1750 trials, each taking 120,976 years, after which he attained Golden
Immortality. After another one hundred million years, he finally became the Jade
Emperor.
According to Taoist myth, it was the Jade Emperor who created men. He fashioned
men out of clay, and left them to harden in the sun. However, it rained, causing
the men to deform, and thus introducing the origin of sickness and physical
abnormalities. This is just one of the many stories featuring the Jade Emperor
that are popular in China, and with Chinese practising Taoism.
The Thni Kong Tnua or Jade Emperor's Pavilion in Air Itam is one of those rare
temples dedicated to the worship of this august deity. The temple in its present
form dates back to 1905. It was built by the same Cantonese-Hokkien temple
trustees as the Kong Hock Keong, better known as Kuan Yin Teng.
A Taoist shrine is said to have existed on that particular site since 1869, and
for that reason, the present Jade Emperor's Pavilion is regarded as being over
140 years old. Before the renovation of 2002, the Jade Emperor's Pavilion
received its last major facelift through the efforts of the philanthropist
brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, of Haw Par Villa fame.
That was back in 1931. Among the structures built at that time was an octagonal
pavilion that is still standing. The Thni Kong Tnua underwent extensive
renovation and restoration which began in January 2002. As the craftmanship is
not available locally, artisans from China had to be employed. They include 33
craftsmen from Fuzhou. The people involved in the restoration is also the ones
who worked on the award-winning Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore. The
restoration of the Thian Hock Keng Temple received an award from UNESCO for
cultural heritage conservation.
The Jade Emperor's Pavilion is particularly busy on 8th night of Chinese New
Year, because it is thronged by devotees coming to celebrate the Jade Emperor's
birthday, which falls on the 9th day of Chinese New Year.
Getting There
Take Rapid Penang Bus U204 which goes to the Penang Hill Railway station. Check
the Rapid Penang Bus Routes for details. From the bus stop, walk a short
distance down the road till you reach a lane to your left with a big arch. The
arch is for the Jade Emperor's Pavilion.
Take that lane. A short distance up that lane, Go straight up until you see the
Jade Emperor Pavilion perched on the hill side. The hill railway viaduct passes
right behind the temple.
undo...back