Didn’t know Jin San Temple had such an interesting story? This temple is more than just a place of worship. Jin San Temple represents a unique blend of three religions. These are Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
Jin San Temple began as Jin Long Miao. It was established in 1941 as a religious and charity mission. Philanthropic Chinese merchants provided the funds. The temple offered shelter and worship during a time of uncertainty. War threatened Southeast Asia in the 1940s.
Initially, Jin San Temple was an attap hut. A grateful devotee donated the land. Wan Guan Lin later rebuilt it. He used zinc roofing and wood. The devotees showed their artistic talent. They built a large Laughing Buddha statue from sawdust. There was also a pagoda. A pavilion held a life-size figure of their patron deity. This deity was Nan Wu Wu Ji Sheng Mu.
Jin San Temple’s teachings fuse three religions. These “san-jiao” teachings come from Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The temple embraces Taoist deities. Nan Wu Wu Ji Sheng Mu and Pan Gu are among them. This demonstrates religious tolerance within the community. Elderly devotees still listen to taped teachings. The late master’s lessons play in Hokkien every Sunday afternoon.
Today, Jin San Temple occupies 1,840 square meters. It has about 4,000 regular worshippers. More than 300 registered members belong to Jin San Temple. The temple provides free vegetarian meals daily. Over 100 aged and poor devotees benefit from this. Jin San Temple actively contributes to Braddell Heights’ grassroots organizations. Despite limited resources, they provide funds and manpower. The temple sponsors events for the Ramakrishna Mission Home. This home houses orphans and wayward boys. To show their gratitude, the home lets devotees cut through their grounds. This provides a shortcut when walking uphill to the temple.
Jin San Temple was once known for its ancient Bodhi tree. Buddhists consider the Bodhi tree sacred. Buddha found shelter under such a tree. He sought enlightenment there. Under that tree, Buddha attained enlightenment. The Bodhi tree symbolizes Buddha’s wisdom and compassion.
The Jin San Temple Bodhi tree came from Sri Lanka. Monks brought twelve seeds in the nineteenth century. Around 2007, it was about 120 years old. It stood over 30 meters tall. Its girth measured 8.5 meters. The Nature Society Singapore and National Parks Board verified it. They believed it was the oldest and largest Bodhi tree in Singapore. Its roots intertwined with the temple’s foundation.
In 2003, redevelopment plans threatened Jin San Temple. The Urban Redevelopment Authority issued a land acquisition order. This was for the Mass Rapid Transit Circle Line Project. The temple and Bodhi tree faced relocation. Public appeals arose to save them.
The temple was offered an alternative site in Punggol. They also offered compensation. However, the management hoped to stay. They organized events to raise awareness. They appealed to authorities to reconsider. Many wanted to preserve the ancient Bodhi tree. Busloads of visitors came to see the temple. Some started blogs and online petitions.
In 2008, a legal suit tried to save the temple. The High Court dismissed the case. The temple relocated to a temporary site. It later moved to a permanent home in Tai Seng Avenue. The government retained the Bodhi tree. They imposed conditions for its preservation.