Tan Gong Xian Sheng Miao-Mantin / 譚公仙聖廟-文丁

Tan Gong Xian Sheng Miao-Mantin / 譚公仙聖廟-文丁.

aka TOKONG CINA THAM KOONG MANTIN

Location:- Mantin, Negeri Sembilan / 文丁, 森美兰州.

Three years ago, I made a visit to this small town to document this century old temple after receiving news that it could be demolished due to developments. It was unfortunate back then that the temple was closed upon our arrival. I was only able to capture photos of its exterior with no further information back then.

Today, after a short coffee with a friend, we decided to make a trip here to complete this unfinished business with the hope that this temple would still be around when we arrive. We were quite lucky to reach here in time. The caretaker was about to close for the day upon our arrival but she was good enough to let me finish up documenting this temple.

Standing at the courtyard, comparing my thoughts of my last visit, i notice the exterior has been refurbish. I clearly remember that the stone lions guarding the temple was green in colour and true enough, the caretaker explain that its committee had refurbish the temple about two years ago as the old structure is quite deterioted after many years of serving the community. It now has an open porch, new paints and roofing. It was great that they managed to retain much of its original structure after refurbishment.

It is not known of the exact date this temple has existed but a metal plaque in the temple inscribed with a date Guang Xu Twenty Eight years is used as reference. Majority of the chinese settlers here are of Hakka descent from Huizhou, China. Many were enticed by the british to work here as coolies and tin miners in the mids 19 century. This would suggest that the temple could be here earlier than the reference date as the chinese is known to bring along their cultural and religious belief to wherever they go. This antique plaque can be found hanging next to the drum inside the temple. By the way, Guang Xu Twenty Eight years is converted to 1902.

This temple consist of two prayer hall. In the main prayer hall, the center altar is dedicated to their main patron deity, Tan Gong / 譚公 known here as Tan Gong Xian Sheng / 譚公仙聖 . The altar to the left is dedicated to Goddess Guan Yin Pu Sa / 觀音菩薩 and the altar to the right is dedicated to Hua Guang Da Di / 華光大帝 along with the yearly deity, Lord Tai Sui / 太歲. Many other deities is also inshrined in this main hall. Among them includes Guan Sheng Da Di / 關聖大帝, Zhao Gong Ming / 趙公明 known here as Xuan Tan Ye Ye Shen / 玄壇爺爺神 , Da Er Bo Ye / 大二伯爺, Hu Ye / 虎爺, Tu Di Gong / 土地公, Tu Di Po / 土地婆, Cai Shen Ye / 財神爺, etc.

On the side section, the second prayer hall has a huge altar mainly dedicated to deities of buddhism and on its courtyard, a shrine is built dedicated to the worship of its tutelary deity, Na Du Gong / 嗱督公.

I was guided to a section of the temple where a few classic black and white photos found by the wall. On one of these photos, as I was told by the caretaker, Madam Lim, was captured on the opening after its renovation a few decades ago. There isn’t any date on the photo but the print suggest it could be in the 60s.

According to a leaflet pasted on the infomation board, during its founding days, proceeds from the temple would be given to the cause of education. This temple was the primary funder of a chinese elementary school, also a century old, located a stone throw away. It is also known that they have contributed to other cultural mission.

Today, it’s is still very fortunate that we could still see the hills in front of this temple. As developments looms, it could be posible that this beautiful view would be taken away or maybe even worse, this old temple may be gone altogether.

Below:- New and Old