Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery

Shuang Lin was founded in 1898 by the merchant Low Kim Pong, who by the story had a vision and waited a year at the shore until a monk arrived from China, and built the monastery on his land. Craftsmen came from Fujian and the buildings follow a classical Chinese monastery plan of halls in sequence. It was gazetted a national monument in 1980 and restored over a decade. A seven-storey pagoda modelled on one at Shanxi was added in 1991.

Background

Also known as Siong Lim Temple, the monastery stands on a site that once covered 40,000 square metres, owned by the Hokkien merchant Low Kim Pong. Building started in 1902 and ended in 1907. In the 1950s part of the land went to public housing, leaving about 20,000 m². About 80 carpenters, sculptors and artisans came from China for the later restoration, finished in 2001 at a cost of approximately S$40 million. Three main halls and two courtyards line a north-south axis, with the entrance facing south according to feng shui. The Shan Men, or Mountain Gate, has pai lou gates over 9 m tall.

Source: Wikipedia, "Siong Lim Temple"

Highlights

• The hall sequence - a classical Chinese monastery plan of successive halls.
• The Fujian craftsmanship - carving and roof work by craftsmen brought from China.
• The pagoda - a seven-storey tower added in 1991 on a Shanxi model.
• The national monument status - the oldest Buddhist monastery on the island.

When to go

Year round; the monastery keeps daily hours. Mornings are quietest. Vesak Day brings crowds.

What to expect

The complex is smaller than Kong Meng San and takes an hour. Restoration has replaced a good deal of the original fabric. It sits among housing blocks with no setting to speak of.

Nearby

Toa Payoh Dragon Playground is nearby, and Bishan is north.

Key facts