Chinese Temples Research Articles

Multimodal Hong Kong: A review of policies regarding soundscape and smellscape of Chinese temples

Many people in Hong Kong regularly visit Chinese temples, and see this not necessarily as a religious activity, but as a traditional practice. Temples represent the local intangible cultural heritage. The dense urbanity and mixed population characterise Hong Kong and make it valuable to study its sounds and smells. Most temples existed earlier than modern urban areas, which grew around them. The temple soundscape consists of drums, bells, coin donations, ventilation fans, as well as chanting, especially during festivals. The smellscape consists of ritual burning of incense and paper, fruit offerings, and building materials e.g., wood and cement. The burning causes particle pollution, health concerns, and residential nuisance, that may conflict with the wish for sustaining a valuable heritage. Smells and air quality have recently become debated, raising the question of the need for a specific regulatory framework. There is currently a lack of official provision that directly protects the sounds and smells of these temples in Hong Kong. This paper reviews the current state of Hong Kong policies in regard to soundscape and smellscape, with comparison to China and France, because of the latter's progressive agenda in preserving sensory heritage in the countryside.

Local Beliefs in Chinese Temples in West Java

This article writes about an overview of local beliefs in Chinese temples in West Java. Existing local beliefs can be in the form of worship of local sacred figures represented in various forms. This research is a qualitative research method with the aim of providing an in-depth description of local beliefs in Chinese temple in West Java. The research was conducted in five temples in Bogor, Cibarusah, Jonggol, Cikarang. Besides that, it also conducted in Jakarta. Data collection techniques were carried out by in-depth interviews, observation and participant observations. The results of the study show that Chinese beliefs are inclusive and undergo a transformation from China to the archipelago by adapting local beliefs in the area where a temple is located. The purpose of adapting these local beliefs is to respect local sacred figures.

Urinary Thioproline and Thioprolinyl Glycine as Specific Biomarkers of Formaldehyde Exposure in Humans.

Assessment of personal formaldehyde (FA) exposure is most commonly carried out using formate as a biomarker, as it is the major product from FA metabolism. However, formate could also have originated from the metabolism of other endogenous and exogenous substances or from dietary intake, which may give rise to overestimated results with regard to FA exposure. We have developed and validated a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) coupled with an isotope-dilution method for rigorous quantitation of two major urinary FA conjugation products: thioproline (SPro) and thioprolinyl glycine (SPro-Gly), formed in the reaction between FA and endogenous cysteine or cysteinyl glycine, respectively, as marker molecules to assess personal FA exposure. Using this newly developed method, we measured the FA exposure levels in cigarette smokers, occupants of a chemistry research laboratory and typical domestic household, and visitors to a Chinese temple with a Pearson correlation coefficient greater than 0.94, showing a strong linear correlation between urinary adduct levels and the airborne FA level. It is believed that quantitation of urinary SPro and SPro-Gly may represent a noninvasive, interference-free method for assessing personal FA exposure.

In the Footsteps of Wolfgang Franke: Revisiting Chinese Temples in Bangkok

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Chinese immigrants constituted up to 50% of the population in Bangkok. Beyond their religious role, Chinese temples served as community centers, fostering social connections, news exchange, and providing entertainment for newcomers in the Thai capital. With archival records scarce, the preserved epigraphy within these temples emerges as a crucial historical source. This article revisits Wolfgang Franke’s documented sites from the 1970s and 1980s, finding that the inscribed objects generally remain intact, and indicating stability in Bangkok’s Chinese temple culture over the last fifty years. Addressing the lack of a comprehensive listing of Chinese temples and their locations, the article presents a geo-referenced survey, significantly expanding previous lists. The survey data are available online as supplemental material, contributing to the documentation of Chinese religious sites in Southeast Asia. The article concludes by reflecting on the historical evolution of temple construction in Bangkok.

The Aesthetics of Temple Gardens: Research on the Application of Zen Philosophical Principles in the Design of Zen-inspired Landscapes

The study of Zen aesthetics within temple garden design initiates with an exploration of the spatial configurations of traditional Chinese temple gardens. It delves into the origins and concepts of Zen-inspired landscapes, summarizing the elements and techniques of landscape design drawn from real-world temple examples and historical texts. Furthermore, the integration of Zen philosophical thoughts and aesthetics into these landscapes is examined, with a particular focus on the strategic placement of plants and the employment of core aesthetic principles. This analysis sheds light on the embedded Buddhist cultural themes, offering practical recommendations for crafting Zen-inspired landscapes.

Intercultural Adaptation of Chinese Culture to The Elements of City Planning on The North Coast of Java (Case Study: Jin De Yuan and Tay Kak Sie Temple)

Intercultural adaptation in Indonesia especially in the northern coastal areas occurred through cultural interaction between immigrants of various ethnicities and the local culture. The Chinese immigrants initially arrived with a mission to open the silk route via waterways and settled in the area by establishing Chinese community and constructing Chinese temples. This research aimed to identify the intercultural adaptation of Chinese culture in the northern coastal Chinese community areas, with a case study of Jin De Yuan Temple in Jakarta and Tay Kak Sie Temple in Semarang. Descriptive analysis was employed with two data collection processes. Secondary data were obtained from literature studies and primary data were gathered through direct observations at the locations. This research adopted an intercultural adaptation perspective with a scale for urban design elements. The findings revealed that both research objects shared similarities in the intercultural adaptation process, particularly in acculturation and assimilation.

Cultural Character Analysis on Architectural Elements of the Chinese Temples’ Buildings before the 19th Century in Central Java

The research provided an in-depth exploration of the architectural nuances of pre-19th century Chinese temples in Central Java, Indonesia, emphasizing their cultural significance and relevance. A detailed examination of a range of temples identified unique architectural features that reflected a sophisticated synthesis of Chinese cultural elements and local Javanese traditions. Applying a qualitative method, the research integrated historical scrutiny with architectural analysis, meticulously examining stylistic attributes, construction methodologies, and decorative patterns typical of these temples. The key discoveries highlight an intricate amalgamation of traditional Chinese architectural principles with native materials and craftsmanship, culminating in a distinctive, hybrid architectural form. This fusion not only symbolizes the cultural convergence and assimilation between Chinese immigrants and the indigenous Javanese during the pre-colonial era but also underscores the role of these temples as pivotal preservers of Chinese cultural heritage in Java. Furthermore, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the diversity within architectural practices and offers insightful perspectives on the historical and socio-cultural dynamics in Central Java. The novelty of the research is anchored in its focused examination of a historically and geographically specific context, its interdisciplinary and thorough approach, the revelation of a unique hybrid architectural style, and its significant insights into the cultural and sociological dimensions of Central Java’s architectural legacy.

Digitalisation of asset management in Chinese temples in Hong Kong

This paper presents the efforts to digitalise the asset management of Chinese temples in Hong Kong, which is a new trial in the industry. To revitalise these unique heritage buildings and empower the temples’ administration with digital tools, three Chinese temples in Ap Lei Chau and Aberdeen directly administrated by the Chinese Temples Committee (CTC) were selected as pilot projects where a digital twin was developed to enable digital asset management. Laser scanning technologies were encompassed, integrated with close-range terrestrial photogrammetry to generate precise 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM). An asset information management platform was built to consolidate the operation data and establish a common data environment to support data-driven management, with parameters collected from Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices and Digital Works Supervision System (DWSS) statistics consolidated. Moreover, Augmented Reality (AR) was leveraged for tourism and education, and different phases of historic temples were modelled to present the evolution and culture over time. Through this project, in addition to the higher operation efficiency enabled by the digitalised workflow and consolidated data source, a digital blueprint was built through the formulation of a digitalisation roadmap, which contains customised recommendations on cutting-edge digital tools’ implementation in relation to heritage monuments. This can be extended to 24 Chinese temples in the future as well.

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC TRADITIONS OF CHINA ON THE IMAGE OF A RELIGIOUS BUILDING

The Buddhist temple complex of Dunhuang can be named as the oldest example of the transformation of architectural and artistic canons of foreign religions when they were transferred to the territory of China. The artistic canons of the sanctuaries, which originated in India, underwent more and more transformations as local architectural and artistic skills developed. The same can be said about the transformation of the image of an Islamic religious building in the case of mosques, for example, in Shaanxi province, which acquired the architectural and artistic image of a Chinese temple of the traditional beliefs of Taoism and Confucianism. The influence of local traditions even on the image of a Christian church, namely the German Protestant church in Qingdao, was studied. In particular, it is quite bright for the German northern national romanticism, the polychromy of the facades, which contrasts with the ascetic interior. 
 Unlike traditional Protestant churches, the Protestant church in Qingdao has an irregular plan and the entrance to it is located not from the west, as usually, but from the south (Fig. 1). The asymmetry of the church composition is emphasized by the dominant tower with a height of 39 m. 
 This object is traditionally mentioned in the same row as other objects of northern national romanticism – the Residence of the Governor of Qingdao and the Japanese Girl’s High School. First of all, let’s analyze what signs of northern national romanticism are present here: 
 – large scale;
 – an active silhouette with the presence of pseudo-Romanesque towers of different heights;
 – the presence of “torn” stone cladding;
 – lack of small details and decoration on the facades.
 Now let's define the features that are not inherent in the typical German northern national romanticism:
 – dominance of yellow tinted wall planes over planes faced with “torn” stone;
 – the introduction of bright polychromy (red tiled roofs – yellow plastered walls – planes faced with “torn” granite – green tower’s roof not in the outlines of northern national romanticism).
 An analysis of the appearance of the Protestant church in Qingdao led to the following conclusions.
 An analysis of the appearance of the Protestant church in Qingdao led to the following conclusions.
 The important role of this object in the planning structure of the settlement actually built on an empty site is evidenced by the following facts:
 – the location is close to the government district;
 – holding a competition in Berlin;
 – funding by the Qingdao Governor's Office;
 – the choice of the style of northern national romanticism. 
 However, despite the presence of some signs of northern national romanticism in its German version, the phenomenon of style transformation when transferred to Chinese soil should be noted. In particular, under the influence of the picturesque natural environment, other natural and climatic conditions and Chinese architectural and artistic traditions of bright colours, the Protestant church acquired features that are not characteristic of northern national romanticism.

한국과 중국의 사찰 굿즈(Goods) 디자인 특성에 관한 비교 분석 연구

Korean Buddhism faces a crisis due to secularization, detachment from religion, and an aging population. Generation Z shows declining faith and temple visits. In contrast, China sees more Generation Z tourists at temples, boosting temple 'goods' popularity. Chinese temple goods blend tradition with contemporary design, attracting young tourists online. This study compares Korean and Chinese temple goods design, focusing on Generation Z's preferences. Korean designs score high in relevance and trustworthiness but lack functionality. Chinese designs excel in prominence and uniqueness but lack trustworthiness. To revitalize Korean temple economies and attract visitors, designs should harmonize tradition and modernity, catering to Generation Z's preferences.
 The comparison of temple goods in South Korea and China revealed that South Korean designs excel in 'relevance' and 'trustworthiness' but lack 'functionality.' Meanwhile, Chinese designs are strong in 'prominence' and 'uniqueness' but lack 'trustworthiness.' To address this, South Korean temple goods design should blend tradition with modernity, considering Generation Z's preferences to rejuvenate temple culture effectively.

Cultural hybridization in the veneration of a Javanese local hero as a kongco at Lasem’s Gie Yong Bio Chinese temple during Indonesia’s reformation Era

Cultural hybridization in the veneration of a Javanese local hero as a <i>kongco</i> at Lasem’s Gie Yong Bio Chinese temple during Indonesia’s reformation Era

Masculinity and Femininity Symbols in South China Buddhist Temples: Psycho-Anthropological Perspective

Studies on masculinity in the last ten years have increased along with men's awareness of themselves. The study of masculinity is in opposition to the study of femininity. In this regard, this research intersects both of them, namely the study of masculinity and femininity in the Quan Yin temple in China. This research explores the Quan Yin symbols in the Southern Chinese (Mahayana Buddhist) Temples. This study uses a psycho-anthropological perspective. This research with a qualitative approach uses data from the architecture of the Quan Yin Temple. Data collection techniques refer to ethnographic studies, namely (1) observation, (2) photography, (3) recording, and (4) interviewing. The results of the study show that the structure that appears in Quan Yin symbolism is a dyadic structure that is divided into oppositions of (i) temples with pagodas without pagodas, (ii) masculine-feminine, (iii) strong-gentle, (iv) closed (introversion)-open (extroversion), and (v) anima -animus. Meanwhile, in terms of the collective mediation function of symbolism, it is shown that Quan Yin has symbolism, which shows that Quan Yin is indeed the highest and surpasses gods or goddesses. Therefore, Quan Yin can manifest/become anything to help mankind on Earth. This research universally shows that masculinity and femininity are also present in religious symbols. Both masculinity and femininity are nondualities that cannot be separated. This concept is almost the same as yin and yang in Chinese human philosophy.

The Dependence of Javanese Culture in Chinese Temple Ceremony

The research discussed the dependence on local culture, in this case, on Javanese culture, in the Chinese temple ceremony. A close relationship between Chinese and Javanese culture could be seen in the cultural interactions between the Chinese and Javanese. This cultural interaction was related to the relationship of the Chinese people with the Javanese cultural values and cultural elements, such as in the ceremony. In cultural interaction, Chinese people were immersed in the values and elements of Javanese culture. Cultural reality had shown, in historical reality, that the Chinese in the past had met, fused, and merged into Java. The research method applied the research was a qualitative descriptive method and case study with an ethnographic approach. This research shows cultural borrowing and dependence on Javanese culture. One of the dependencies of Javanese culture in Chinese culture is ceremony or ritual. Taking the case of the god's birthday ceremony, which is held in temples in Central Java, namely Tek Hay Bio (Semarang) and Welahan, it will be shown that Javanese culture influences Chinese culture. Consequently, the borrowing and dependence on Javanese culture in Chinese culture cause the dominance of Javanese culture in Chinese temple ceremonies and make the loss of some elements of Chinese culture itself (displacement).

The Malaysian Historical Geographical Information System (MHGIS): The Case of Chinese Temples in Johor

This is a quantitative study of Chinese temples in Johor using temple data to show the development of Chinese religion in the state. The study finds that Chinese temples in Johor are dominated by a fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism, with only a minority of orthodox Buddhism in existence. The broad range of Buddhist and Daoist deities shows the diversity and inclusiveness of the religion. In addition, the number of newly created temples in the state is still on the rise, contradicting the perception that they, especially Daoist ones, are on the decline. The quantitative data collation and analysis of Chinese temples in Johor not only will reflect more accurately the development of religion and beliefs of the local Chinese community, but also is an attempt to construct Malaysia Historical Geographic Information System (MHGIS). We hope that in the future, we can make use of the convenience of the data humanities system to make a more macro and holistic exploration and development of the study of Chinese temples and beliefs in Malaysia.

Form expression of “Kelenteng Hok Tek Bio ” Chinese temple related to the function, building structure, and symbol

The design of the kelenteng (temple) building using a typology of the form of the Chinese temple building is very interesting to be used as a research issue, which raises some interesting questions, namely: (1) Does this aim at the uniformity of all the temples outside China?; (2) Is this building still feasible to use wooden structures?; (3) What about the “sign” meaning of the symbol?. This study aims to find information on how the “Kelenteng Hok Tek Bio” (Chinese temple) in anticipating this problem with the development of people who tended to increase after the fall of the New Order government in 1998 Chinese religious rituals permitted again. The method is qualitative interpretative research. The conclusion obtained in this study is; (1) The “Kelenteng Hok Tek Bio” has Si He Yuan courtyard type in the middle of the building with a symmetrical form. It looks like a Chinese Temple; (2) The structure used is wood and concrete adapted to the spirit of the age; (3) The “sign” meaning is index, symbol, and icon. The findings are “function follows the form”, and the kelenteng has a courtyard, symmetrical form, wooden and concrete structures, the “sign” meaning of the building can be an index for Feng Shui, symbols for ornamentation, and icon for flora, fauna, even the hànzì script.

Chinese Temples and Buddhism Unite In Harmony

Relationship history between China and Indonesia Archipelago has been recorded since 1st century and followed by Chinese community to migrate to the archipelago at that time. The migration also brought their beliefs and culture to enrich archipelago culture. Chinese people and their temples role in developing Buddhism were not discussed in detail, even, there were many misunderstandings between temples and Buddhism institutions. Further, to overcome this problem, we must understand how Chinese belief system and temple role in developing Buddhism in 18th to 21st centuries. Chinese temple's track record is dominant in Buddhism development. Benqing monk's record who traveled from one temple to another in providing services for people in temples or Mahayana Buddhist was possible to be traced. In addition, role of Dizang Yuan in Jakarta to educate the "flower monks" as prayers. Even the role of spreading Buddhism through symbols could be seen in various temples. Absolutely, this role requires better establishment and deeper understanding of Chinese people beliefs and temple function as an effort to build harmony. Furthermore, Chinese temples division and belief systems with "Three Teachings" are required to be studied deeper. So, we can all understand that the core is "harmony”

Developing a Video Script for the Three Unique Chinese Temples as Tourism Destination in Palembang

This research was aimed at designing a video script to promote three Chinese temples in Palembang. In this study, the writers used the research and development (R&amp;D) method. The writers conducted five steps of the R&amp;D method: 1) Preliminary investigation; 2) Designing; 3) Realization/construction; 4) Testing, revising, and evaluation; 5) Implementation [6]. The writers implemented these steps by designing the product. The data were collected from documentation, observation and interview in the preliminary investigation step. In the designing step, the writers arranged the structure and content of the script and made it become the first draft as a realization step. In the testing, revising and evaluating step, the draft of the video script regarding the language, structure of sentences, and the content of the script was revised by several experts starting from tourism, linguistics, and script writing experts. In the last step, the writers made it become the final script. The script was written in English by using Celtx as the software for writing the script. The script described the uniqueness and the long history of three Chinese temples in Palembang. In addition, to design a script, the R&amp;D method [6] was linked to the ten steps of writing a script: finding an idea, creating a plan, researching, selecting material, planning the message, arranging the structure, drafting the script, first draft and testing script, and final draft [7].

An international turn: Rebuilding Chinese temple networks in Indonesia 20 years after the Suharto era

AbstractThe transnationalization of Chinese temples is producing new spatial imaginaries and adding cosmopolitan dimensions to Chinese Indonesian identities in the post‐Suharto era. In 1999, the Indonesian state legally‐sanctioned Chinese Popular Religion after decades of prohibition, ushering in a period of Chinese religious revival nationally backed by constitutional legitimacy. The recent emergence of transnational temple networks is providing a further form of cultural legitimacy based on symbols and statuses that circulate in a broader cosmopolitan transnational social sphere. Using case studies of three temples in Singkawang, Indonesia, each with a different form of international network, this paper shows how the transnational circulation of religious teachings, people, ideas, donations and deities can provide the raw materials for expressions of cultural identity which are locally rooted and embedded in specific ethnic politics of belonging. Forging transnational religious connections has the potential to develop into long lasting and formal institutional platforms of exchange, however, it often begins with informal, spontaneous and idiosyncratic encounters.

Overview of Tien Kok Sie Temple in Solo City, Indonesia

Tien Kok Sie Temple is the oldest Chinese temple di Solo, Indonesia. It has a history of more than 300 years. Until this moment, many people will go to the temple to pray or have sightseeing this temple. Solo Cultural Department has announced that Tien Kok Sie Temple has become one of the cultural heritage buildings in Solo. Tien Kok Sie Temple also represents the integration of Chinese Culture into Indonesian local people, also it is very harmonious.

One ocean one temple: Alternative Chinese temple networks in Southeast Asia

AbstractThe continuing expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (formerly known as One Belt One Road) has attracted considerable commentary, but little attention has been given to the formation of alternative networks in Southeast Asia or to the earlier history of trade and trust networks centred in the temples and regional association offices of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia. This paper examines the formation and continuing expansion of a horizontal network of Chinese temples dedicated to the tutelary god (Earth God) of the port cities of Southeast Asia. The World Dabogong Federation was founded in 2017 and is now 5 years old. It currently includes over 160 temples from over 100 port cities. This paper explores the nature of this network and its relation to earlier temple and trust networks as well as its engagement with new media and technologies.