How about stepping back in time to 1836? That was when the original Hong San See, the Temple on Phoenix Hill, was established on Tras Street.
Today we stand before the Hong San See at Mohamed Sultan Road. It’s more than a temple. It embodies the Hokkien immigrants’ spirit. These immigrants came from Nan’an County in China.
Neo Lim Kwee led these pioneers. The Hong San See became their social center. Here, they found community and support.
In 1907, the colonial government needed the land. The temple received 50,000 Straits dollars as compensation. With this money, they built the present Hong San See between 1908 and 1913.
Lim Loh oversaw the construction. His son, Lim Bo Seng, became a war hero. The temple reflects traditional Hokkien architecture. Look at the curved roofs. Notice the swallow-tail end sweeps. Dragons dance across the roof. They symbolize justice, power, and prosperity. These decorations use jian nian. Colorful ceramics are cut and pasted. They form mosaic figures. You can find similar art in other Singapore temples.
Interestingly, the embellishments differ on each side. One side features chrysanthemum flowers. The other shows lotus motifs. It’s said that competing artisans worked simultaneously. Each team tried to outdo the other.
Guang Ze Zun Wang is the chief deity. People believe he was born during the Later Tang Dynasty. Other deities include Cheng Huang, Xuan Tian Shang Di, and Guan Yin.
Once, Hong San See housed Nan Ming School. Founded in 1915, it educated local children. Sadly, it closed in 1925 due to financial problems.
The Singapore Lam Ann Association manages Hong San See since 1973. They completed a major restoration from 2006 to 2009. In 2010, the temple received the UNESCO Award of Excellence. It was the first Chinese temple in Singapore to earn this honor.
Hong San See means “Temple on Phoenix Hill”. It once had a sea view. Now, high-rise buildings block the panorama. But the temple remains a significant landmark. It’s a testament to Singapore’s cultural heritage. It reminds us of the early Hokkien community.