Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery facts for kids
| 光明山普觉禅寺 | |
The Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall of the temple
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 Location in Singapore
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| Monastery information | |
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| Full name | Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery |
| Order | Mahayana |
| Established | 1920 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Zhuan Dao |
| Abbot | Kwang Sheng |
| Important associated figures | Hong Choon, Long Gen, Yan Pei, Sui Kim |
| Site | |
| Location | Bishan, Singapore |
| Coordinates | 1°21′41.04″N 103°50′9.6″E / 1.3614000°N 103.836000°E |
| Public access | yes |
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Basic terms |
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People |
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Schools |
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Practices |
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study Dharma |
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The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery is a large Buddhist temple and monastery in Bishan, Singapore. It is also known as the Bright Hill Pujue Chan Monastery. This special place was built by Zhuan Dao in the early 1900s. Its main goals were to share Buddhist teachings and offer a place for monks to stay.
Today, it is the biggest Buddhist temple in Singapore. It is also the main organization for the Buddhist College of Singapore, which started in 2006.
Contents
A Look Back: The Monastery's Story
How It Began
The Phor Kark See Monastery was built between 1920 and 1921. It sits on land in Thomson Road that was given by Tay Woo Seng, a Chinese businessman. This was the very first traditional Chinese monastery built in Singapore.
The monastery is located on a hill called Kong Meng San, which means "Bright Hill." That's why it's known as "Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery." When it first opened, it had a two-story building, a shrine room, a visitors' room, and living areas. Over time, kind people like Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par gave money to help it grow.
Growing Under New Leaders
In 1947, Hong Choon became the monastery's abbot (leader) after the first abbot, Zhuan Dao, passed away. Under Hong Choon's guidance, the monastery became much larger. It grew from two shrine halls to include a Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas and many prayer halls. The total area became as big as ten football fields! He worked with his followers to make it the largest and most impressive place for Buddhist practice in Singapore.
In 2004, Kwang Sheng became the monastery's current abbot. He started the Dharma Propagation Division. This division helps Singaporeans learn about Buddhism and practice Dharma (Buddhist teachings). He also created the Youth Ministry KMSPKS Youth. This group gives young people a chance to learn about Buddhism and help society using Buddhist ideas.
Helping the Community
The temple has always tried to help people.
- In 1980, they started building the Evergreen Bright Hill Home. It opened in 1983, thanks to a large donation from Hong Choon's followers.
- In 2008, the temple raised over S$1 million. This money helped rebuild schools damaged by an earthquake in Sichuan, China. They did this by holding a special charity show.
- In 2009, the temple launched Gum, an English magazine. It helps connect older devotees who speak Hokkien with younger, English-speaking people. The name "Gum" means "to get along" in Hokkien, showing unity.
- The temple also worked with a filmmaker to create "Little Note." This short film shares an inspiring story about a single mother.
- In 2014, KMSPKS Youth went on their first humanitarian trip overseas to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Exploring the Monastery
The monastery grounds are huge and have many interesting features:
- There are stupas (dome-shaped structures), prayer halls, and a columbarium. The columbarium is a place that holds over 200,000 niches for ashes.
- You can also see bell and drum towers.
- An outdoor statue of Avalokitesvara (a Bodhisattva of compassion) stands between the Dharma Hall and the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas.
- The Hong Choon Memorial Hall was built in 2004 to honor the former abbot.
The Sacred Bodhi Tree
One very special part of the monastery is its Bodhi Tree. This tree grew from a sapling (a young tree) brought from a sacred Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. That tree in Sri Lanka also came from a sapling of the original sacred Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India. It is believed that Shakyamuni Buddha found enlightenment under that original tree.
Asia's Giant Buddha Statue
Inside the temple's Hall of No Form, you'll find one of Asia's largest bronze Buddha statues. It stands 13.8 meters (about 45 feet) tall and weighs 55 tons!
Modern Upgrades
In 2014, a new four-story carpark was added. It has about 200 parking spaces. Also in 2014, a new eco-friendly burner was installed. This helps improve air quality, especially during busy times like the Qingming Festival.
Buddhist College of Singapore
The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery opened the Buddhist College of Singapore on September 13, 2006. This is Singapore's main Buddhist college. It offers a four-year bachelor's degree in Buddhism.
Lessons were held on the temple grounds until a new five-story building was finished. This new building was completed in 2016 and officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In 2014, the college announced that it would start accepting female monastics (nuns). A new campus for nuns was planned at Poh Ern Shih Temple, ready to welcome 45 students every two years.
Special Events
The monastery celebrates Vesak Day every year. This is a very important Buddhist holiday. During Vesak Day, they hold various ceremonies like "Bathing the Buddha" and "Three-Steps-One-Bow." Another major event celebrated here is the Qingming Festival.
See also
- Buddhism in Singapore
- List of Buddhist temples
- Kek Lok Si
