Chua Thien Hau
 
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© John Holstein 2020
 
 
 
 

Thien Hau Temple was erected in 1760 by the Cantonese community. It's dedicated to the Sea Goddess, Mazu.

 
 
 
 
 
A close-up of the porcelain diorama above the outer gate.
 
 
 
 
 
The temple is quite narrow. All three statues are of Thien Hau.
 
 
 
 
Wikipedia: "Thiên Hau is the Vietnamese transcription of the Chinese name Tianhou ("Empress of Heaven"), an epithet of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu... Although officially unrecognized by both the governments of Mainland China and Taiwan, the faith is popular in the maritime southern provinces of China and, especially, on Taiwan and among the Chinese diaspora. In Vietnam, she is also sometimes known as the 'Lady of the Sea' (Tuc Goi La Ba).[1] Mazuism is frequently syncretized with Taoism and Buddhism. For example, at the Quan Am Pagoda nearby, the two main altars are dedicated to Thien Hau and Quan Am, the Vietnamese form of Guanyin, the Chinese form of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara."
 
 
 
 
 

World Pilgrimage Guide: "Suspended over the main worship area, in front of the altar of Thien Hau, are dozens of incense coils. Visitors to the temple frequently purchase these, attach their names to the coils, and then have them hung from the ceiling of the temple. As the incense smoke curls upwards in the air, the pilgrims believe their prayers are transmitted to the deity. Many of the incense coils are quite large, with a diameter of more than a meter, and can burn for several weeks."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These two deities are at the entrance to the temple, one on each side.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wikipedia: "...[R]emarkable porcelain dioramas that decorate the roof. The dioramas show scenes from a 19th-century Chinese city, and include such colorful figures as actors, demons, animals, and Persian and European sailors and traders."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is a close-up of the gentleman in the center of the preceding photo. He's winking!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The banner in red and gold says the English equivalent of "Happy New Year." At this time of the year women in their tao dai have their photos taken at prominent places. You can see more views of Tet street celebrations here.
 
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