Phor Kark See, Singapore

high-definition creative commons photographs from Phor Kark See, Singapore, showing the buildings, sculptures and decorations, together with further information.

 

Around 1920, the Phor Kark See Monastery was built on the a plot of land in Thomson Road donated by Tay Woo Seng, a Chinese businessmen. It was the first traditional Chinese forest monastery to be built in Singapore. Since Phor Kark See Monastery is situated at Kong Meng San ("Bright Hill", formerly "Hai Nan Mountain"), it has come to be known as "Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery".

The original temple consisted of a two-storey building, a shrine room, a visitors' room and living quarters. The Monastery expanded steadily over time as philanthropists like Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par donated funds to the monastery for its expansion.

In 1947, Ven. Hong Choon became the monastery's abbot. Under his leadership, the monastery's complex expanded from two shrine halls to include the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas and large prayer halls. He also progressively developed and expanded the monastery with his followers into the largest and most majestic place of practice in Singapore.

On 5 June 2004, Ven. Kwang Sheng became the monastery's present abbot. Under Kwang Sheng's leadership, the Dharma Propagation Division was set up for Singaporeans to learn Buddhism and practice the Dharma in relevant ways. The Youth Ministry KMSPKS Youth, was set up to serve as a platform for Singaporean youths who want to know about Buddhism, learn Buddhism and serve the society via Buddhist teachings.

The modern day monastery premises consist of stupas, prayer halls, crematorium and columbarium which houses over 200,000 niches, bell and drum towers, and an outdoor statue of Avalokitesvara stands between the Dharma Hall and the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas.

The Hong Choon Memorial Hall of the temple was built in 2004. The large bronze Buddha statue located in the temple's Hall of No Form is one of Asia's largest Buddha statue, with a height of 13.8 metres and weighing 55 tons. A six-storey $35 million Buddhist college for monks has now been completed.

Text adapted from Wikipedia (retrieved, June 1st 2017)

use j/k or left/right arrow
to navigate through the photos below

01 Map of the Buildings

01 Map of the Buildings

Hall of Great Compassion

02 Plaza in front of the Hall of Great Compassion

02 Plaza in front of the Hall of Great Compassion

03 Vesak Lighting

03 Vesak Lighting

04 Auspicious Lighting

04 Auspicious Lighting

05 The Goddess of Compassion, Guanyin

05 The Goddess of Compassion, Guanyin

06 Praying to the Goddess of Compassion

06 Praying to the Goddess of Compassion

07 The Goddess of Compassion, in situ

07 The Goddess of Compassion, in situ

08 The Goddess of Compassion, Close up

08 The Goddess of Compassion, Close up

09 The Goddess of Compassion, Angled View

09 The Goddess of Compassion, Angled View

10 The Goddess of Compassion, from the Side

10 The Goddess of Compassion, from the Side

11 Buddhas and Attendants

11 Buddhas and Attendants

12 Manjusri

12 Manjusri

13 Visvabhadra

13 Visvabhadra

14 Ceramic Decorations

14 Ceramic Decorations

15 Window

15 Window

16 Giant Bell

16 Giant Bell

Hall of Great Strength

17 Hall of Great Strength

17 Hall of Great Strength

18 Back of Hall of Great Strength

18 Back of Hall of Great Strength

19 Hall of Great Strength, from Behind

19 Hall of Great Strength, from Behind

20 Dragon on Roof, Right

20 Dragon on Roof, Right

21 Dragon on Roof, Left

21 Dragon on Roof, Left

22 Drum Tower

22 Drum Tower

23 Bell Tower

23 Bell Tower

24 Corridor

24 Corridor

25 Corridor and Steps

25 Corridor and Steps

Hall of Precepts (Sima)

26 Hall of Precepts

26 Hall of Precepts

27 Rocana Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Protectors

27 Rocana Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Protectors

28 Bodhisattva and Rocana Buddha

28 Bodhisattva and Rocana Buddha

29 Rocana Buddha from Front

29 Rocana Buddha from Front

30 Rocana Buddha and Devas

30 Rocana Buddha and Devas

31 Rocana Buddha and Vidyakumara

31 Rocana Buddha and Vidyakumara

32 Bodhisattva

32 Bodhisattva

33 Ceiling

33 Ceiling

34 Buddhas carved on Base of Throne

34 Buddhas carved on Base of Throne

Other Buildings and Statues

35 Dharma Hall and Library with Guanyin

35 Dharma Hall and Library with Guanyin

36 Guanyin and Pagoda

36 Guanyin and Pagoda

37 Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas

37 Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas

38 Relic Stupa of Ven Hong Choon

38 Relic Stupa of Ven Hong Choon

39 Sangha Quarters

39 Sangha Quarters

40 Buddha in Hall of No Form

40 Buddha in Hall of No Form

41 Buddha in Hall of No Form, from Below

41 Buddha in Hall of No Form, from Below

42 Buddha in Hall of No Form, from Side

42 Buddha in Hall of No Form, from Side

43 Pond and Paths

43 Pond and Paths

44 Pond

44 Pond

 

Photographs by Anandajoti Bhikkhu

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