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The Sze Ya Temple and Environs

Following feng shui principles, Sze Ya Temple is set at an angle to Jalan Tun HS Lee and Lebuh Pudu. As a result of this orientation, the Temple is tucked away behind the shophouses and is visually obscured. The orientation also created the unusual angle of the walls, arches and stairways of these buildings.

A lane off this street leads to the Temple gate. The Sin Sze Si Sze Ya Temple, or Sze Ya Temple. Built in 1864 by Kapitan Cina Yap Ah Loy as a tribute to the deities Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, it is one of the oldest and most revered Taoist temples.

During the turbulent 1880s when there was frequent fighting between the Malays and Chinese, Yap Ah Loy was sent to assist Sheng Meng Li, Kapitan Cina of Sungai Ujong. When the latter died in 1862, it was popularly held that "the blood which flowed when his head was chopped off was white and not red ". As a result, he was later credited with supernatural powers and asociated with the Cantonese god Sen Ta or Sin Sze Ya. The oracles of this deity guided Yap Ah Loy during the Selangor Civil War. Later, when Yap Ah Loy's blood-brother and loyal lieutenant Chung Lai died, he too became deified to be known as Si Sze Ya.

Originally housed in a small atap hut, the Temple was rebuilt in 1882 in brick and tiles. It comprises a main hall and two side halls. In the main hall, the statues of Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya are placed on the central altar. An altar to Yap Ah Loy with his photograph is on the left. Each time a worshipper makes a donation to the Temple, the brass bell and large drum along the left wall are sounded to announce the donor's name.

The hall to the right houses Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, andseveral Buddha figurines. The left hall pays tribute to Thai Swe, Guardian of the Year, and Choi Sen, God of Wealth.

In 1904, when Yap Ah Loy's family wanted to re-claim the land, the High Court ruled against it. A Temple Trust was then established, comprising 12 trustees repre-senting the different Chinese clans.

Click the map below to view a larger version

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