Da Bo Gong Temple: a Taoist temple that attracts devotees and tourists alike

The sleepy island of Kusu, one of Singapore’s southern islands, has developed from a mere pair of reef outcroppings into a sizable island that has achieved holiday destination status. One of the main attractions on Kusu Island is the Da Bo Gong Taoist temple, which houses two main deities, Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin. Da Bo Gong, known as the God of Prosperity or the Merchant God, is revered for his ability to cure disease, bestow prosperity, prevent danger, and calm the seas. Guan Yin, on the other hand, is considered to confer fertility and bestow children. The picturesque red-toned temple was built by a wealthy businessman in 1923.

The location of the temple is associated with a popular legend that tells that two sailors, a Malay and a Chinese, were shipwrecked nearby. Seeing their situation, a giant tortoise transformed into an island to create a safe haven for them, saving their lives.

Taoists commemorate this miraculous rescue to this day by making a pilgrimage to Da Bo Gong Temple, arriving at the shrine by thousands. A wide cross-section of pilgrims visit the shrine, praying to deities and burning offerings. One of the distinctive features of the temple is its wishing well, created in the shape of a lotus flower. Devotees throw coins into the well, trying to ring the three bells located inside the well, to fulfill their wishes. Another ritual involves a ‘wishing tree’; pilgrims write their wishes on a piece of paper, fold it, tie it with a red thread and throw it high into the tree. It is believed that the higher the paper falls, the greater the chances that the wish will come true.

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