Kheng Hock Keong

The Kheng Hock Temple, also known as the Kheng Hock Keong (慶福宮), is the largest and oldest temple to the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu in Yangon, Burma. It is located on the corner of Sintodan Street and Strand Road in Latha Township. Kheng Hock Keong is maintained by a Hokkien Chinese clan association.^[1] The temple attracts mostly Hokkien and Hakka worshipers, while the other temple in Latha Township, called the Guanyin Gumiao Temple, attracts Cantonese worshipers. The temple also houses the Hokkien Association, serving as a social hub for the Hokkien community.^[2]

Kheng Hock Keong
Kheng Hock Keong in 2013
Religion
Affiliation	Chinese folk religion, Mazuism
Location
Location	426-432 Strand Road, Yangon
Country	Myanmar
Shown within Myanmar
Geographic coordinates	16°46′21.32″N 96°8′55.27″E
Architecture
Completed	1863; 162 years ago (1863)

Kheng Hock Keong
Traditional Chinese	慶福宮
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qìngfú Gōng Southern Min Hokkien POJ Khèng-hok-kiong
Burmese name
Burmese	ခိန့်ဟုတ်ဗုဒ္ဓဘာသာဘုရားကျောင်း

History

It was originally built as a wooden temple in 1861 and completed in 1863, built in the Fujian style, on a tax-exempt plot of land granted by the British authorities.^[3][4] The founding Kheng Hock Keong Trust Committee was composed of Rangoon's largest Hokkien clans, representing the Chan-Khoo, Lim, Tan, Yeo, Lee, and Su clans.^[4] At the temple's founding, the primary deity was Guanyin.

A new brick building was completed in 1903, costing over 153,000 rupees.^[3] The temple was dedicated to Mazu, the sea goddess who protects sailors and merchants—fittingly situated near the port, reflecting the mercantile origins of many Hokkien migrants from the seaside province of Fujian, China.^[2]

The temple survived World War II bombings.^[2] A major renovation was completed in 2011, marking its 150th anniversary.^[2]

Architecture

The temple features traditional Taoist architecture, including red-painted walls, dragon carvings, lanterns, golden inscriptions, and sculpted pillars. The main shrine is dominated by Mazu’s statue, flanked by other deities like Guan Gong, Bao Sheng Da Di, and Guanyin, the latter of whom was later added and is linked to a local legend in which she protected the temple during World War II bombings.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Kheng Hock Keong after World War II, in 1945.
• 
  Kheng Hock Keong at 2013 Chinese New Year
• 
  Kheng Hock Keong at night
• 
  Courtyard
• 
  Entrance
• 
  Main Shrine of Mazu