THE MONKEY GOD TEMPLE OF KOTA BARU, KELANTAN! A RARE AND UNEXPECTED TEMPLE DEDICATED TO SULUKUNG THE MONKEY GOD! THIS TEMPLE IS CALLED SUKONG TEMPLE AND IS LOCATED IN TAMAN KENANGAN OFF JALAN HOSPITAL. IT IS QUITE SMALL, THE SIZE OF A DOUBLE STOREY BUNGALOW BUT IS VERY CHARMING AS THE PATRON DEITY IS THE MONKEY GOD AND THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY SO THE TEMPLE HOLDS A SPECIAL MEANING

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
THE VAST MAJORITY OF TEMPLES IN MALAYSIA AND ELSEWHERE ARE NOT DEDICATED TO SULUKUNG THE MONKEY GOD SO THIS SU KONG TEMPLE IS WORTH A VISIT. 

I WAS ENCHANTED TO DISCOVER SUCH A TEMPLE EXISTS IN KOTA BARU MY HOME TOWN. I ONLY DISCOVERED THIS TEMPLE WHILE ADMIRING THE PANORAMA FROM THE BALCONY OF DATO TAN CHOON HWA'S PENTHOUSE ON THE 22 ND FLOOR OF 1-RESIDENCE. AFTER HIS NEW YEAR LUNCH I GOT YEO TO DRIVE ME THERE FOR A LOOK-SEE.

Of course there are statues of other gods and goddesses like Xi Wangmu, Queen Mother of Western Heaven, Kuanyin the Goddess of Mercy, Kuankung the God of War and Education and also Business but the central altar is devoted to Monkey God.

SU KONG TEMPLE IN TAMAN KENANGAN, KOTA BARU, KELANTAN




THE MONKEY DEITY

THE MAIN STATUE OF MONKEY GOD

NEARBY STATUE

KUAN KUNG

THE MAIN 3 STATUES OF MONKEY GOD

TYPICAL POSE OF MONKEY GOD

WORLD FAMOUS POSTURE SCANNING THE SKY

LEFT ALTAR

KUAN KUNG STATUES

SNAKES GALORE

KUANYIN ALTAR 

ONE OF THE 4 HEAVENLY KINGS

MONKEY KING IS ALSO PLACED HERE

XI WANGMU, QUEEN MOTHER OF WESTERN HEAVEN

XI WANGMU IS MUCH OLDER THAN BUDDHA AND KUANYIN AS SHE HAS BEEN WORSHIPPED FOR AT LEAST 6,000 YEARS OLD, WHEN CHINESE HISTORY WAS FIRST RECORDED! BUDDHA IS OVER 2,000 YEARS OLD

XI WANGMU IS ALWAYS DRESSED LIKE AN EMPEROR WITH IMPERIAL TRAPPINGS LIKE THE TRADITIONAL CROWN TO DENOTE HER POWER

XI WANGMU IS ALSO SHOWN SEATED ON THRONE AND NEVER STANDING

THE GREAT AND OLDEST GODDESS IN THE CHINESE PANTHEON

KUAN YIN IS GODDESS OF MERCY AND MOST POPULAR

KUAN YIN HOLDING VASE CONTAINING ELIXIR OF LIFE AND IMMORTALITY WITH A SPRIG OF WILLOW 

ACOLYTE OF KUANYIN

MONKEY GOD

MONKEY GOD HOLDING THE PEACH OF IMMORTALITY HE STOLE FROM XI WANGMU'S ORCHARD, THUS RENDERING HIM ETERNAL LIFE!

HANDSOME YOUNG MAN PRAYING TO MONKEY GOD

JADE EMPEROR

KUAN KUNG

KUAN KUNG