At Tian Hock Kung,
snakes replace dragons as
symbols of good fortune
Temple committee chairman Steven Tee expects twice as many visitors in the Year of the Snake.
At most of these places of worship, the heavenly defenders of the realm stand guard at the entrance, their unmistakable supremacy on full display.
But at the 42-year-old Tian Hock Kung temple nestled beside the Klang River here, it is the more earthly snakes that watch over devotees who come for blessings.
Temple manager Paul Sim admits that the cobras, pythons and green snakes, coiling tightly around the bright red pillars, have often left people confused.
“Snakes are considered special here. At our temple, snakes are always depicted alongside turtles. Snakes symbolise ‘long’, while turtles represent ‘age’.
“Together, they embody the concept of longevity,” he told FMT. Tian Hock Kung, a Taoist temple with Buddhist influences, is dedicated to the worship of Xiao Jun Er Fu.
The deity, also known as Er Fu Gong, is one of three sworn brothers celebrated for defeating an evil serpent that terrorised a village in Fujian during the Song Dynasty.
According to legend, the villagers built a temple inside the cave where the battle took place to honour Er Fu Gong and his brothers for their selfless act following their ascension as deities.
Sim dismissed some people’s negative perception of snakes as fearsome and manipulative creatures, saying they are instead symbols of good luck and good fortune.
“When we were building the temple, we got word from Er Fu Gong that we should have snakes as the main motif. This was all approved by him,” he said.
Temple committee chairman Steven Tee expects to see twice as many devotees visit Tian Hock Kung in the Year of the Snake.
“Every weekend, we have five or six buses of tourists coming from Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Every new year, we will have more tourists than the previous year.”
He said hundreds of thousands of local and foreign tourists visit the temple each year, either to pay homage to the deity or to simply marvel at its architecture adorned with around 60 striking sculptures of snakes.
Tee believes his own devotion has brought him a lot of blessings.
He said his own career has been thriving ever since his first visit to Tian Hock Kung 30 years ago. He has risen from being a staff member at a shopping mall to a used car dealer, and now a company director.
“I wanted to purchase a piece of land, so I came to Tian Hock Kung. Er Fu Gong said the land would be mine, and a year later, I got it.
“My business was so small, so it seemed impossible for me to get the deal against the bigger companies. From that day onwards, I have believed in Er Fu Gong.”
Snakes as lucky charms
Devotees of Tian Hock Kung also consider snakes and Er Fu Gong as lucky charms that can bring them wealth and academic excellence.
Sixteen-year-old Ng Xuan Zheng believes blessings from the snakes and the deity they keep company with have helped him do well academically.
“Er Fu Gong has helped many people, including me. I have passed all my exams since I started coming here two to three years ago,” he told FMT.
Retiree Wan Sin Fee, who has made weekly visits to the temple since 1987, believes the deity has helped him prosper.
“Er Fu Gong is still very powerful to this day. I had the honour to be introduced to him and owe my wealth to his blessings,” he added.
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