Included in our Singapore Food Tour was a cultural and history lesson so we were quite excited to go inside the massive Buddhist temple in Chinatown, The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which has several floors and is both a temple and a museum!
I would have been intimidated to go inside without our tour guide. First of all, we were not properly dressed as entering the temple requires both shoulders and thighs to be covered. Our guide showed us an easy fix; at the entry point, a kind Buddhist monk hands out scarves and a kind of wrap around skirt that one can put on in order to meet the dress code. These garments are donated to the temple.
We only had time to see the first floor with Monica, our food tour guide, but we decided to return after we were stuffed full of food to see the upper floors which included Buddha sculptures from all over the world, wax replicas of Buddhist notable monks, and, of course, the actual tooth which is on display behind a glass wall.
The temple is not air conditioned, and we chose to take the stairs because there was a line for the small elevator. At the very top is the bell where you can ask for a spiritual blessing by walking around the bell in the prescribed manner — 3 times counterclockwise?? It just feels right to give a silent prayer before walking around the bell. In terms of a pilgrimage, it’s not a very difficult climb, even taking the stairs.
I personally have a great fondness for Buddha sculptures and have a few in my house. There are so many on display that it’s truly like visiting a museum. Mixed among them are wax figures of the highest achieving Buddhist monks. If you stumble upon them not knowing they are made of wax, it can be quite startling because though they are behind glass, they are life sized. Still, it was interesting to read each placard and learn about their impact on the world.
I think that if you are visiting Singapore’s Chinatown, this is a stop that I highly recommend. I have been to a few Buddhist temples both in Los Angeles and in Japan, and this one is very unique and easy to access. On the way out, you can purchase a item to donate. We bought food that was on sale and dropped it into the donation basket. It’s a nice way to say thank you for letting us into your spiritual dwelling!
My mother was Buddhist so I infrequently went with her to Buddhist temples both in Los Angeles and Orange County. I find the people there so kind and helpful. It was nice to see that Buddhism is alive and well in Singapore!
How about you? Have you ever visited a Buddhist temple? What did you think?
p.s. Related posts:
Children’s Books about Singapore
Picture Books Set in Southeast Asia
Children’s Books about Tibet
My mother, Rose Wenjen, passed away today…
To examine any book more closely at Indiebound or Amazon, please click on image of book.
As an Amazon and IndieBound Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Asian American KidLit on Pinterest.
My books:
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
