Hong Hock See Temple, Perak Road, Penang

Hong Hock See Temple, or Temple of the Lifting Buddha, is a Chinese temple located at 8 Perak Road, Penang. Its abbot is the Venerable Boon Keng. Also known in Hokkien as Ang Hock Si Temple, the temple appears to be an amalgam of a Taoist temple and a Buddhist temple. The architecture of the main building - not sure if we can call it the viharn - is Chinese in design, complete with dragon motif on its roof ridges. Behind the temple building is a stupa with lotus designs on the base. At the top of the stupa is a gilded parasol, called a "hti" in Burmese.

Hong Hock See Temple (1 August 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

In my research on Hong Hock See Temple, I have only uncovered the same story, and it is unrelated to the history of the temple itself: that it is being infested with poisonous red ants. This has become in stinging problem as the monks are not allowed to kill any living thing. The ants are said to have originated from the bodhi tree at the premises. To warn visitors, a sign has been posted in front of the tree.

If anybody out there knows more about Hong Hock See Temple, in terms of its history, please get in touch with me so that I can furnish that information here and share it with others.

Arch of Hong Hock See Temple (1 August 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Getting there

Hong Hock See Temple is located at the north end of Jalan Perak. Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 101, U104 and 304 pass by there. The temple is located right before Wat Buppharam.