Skip to main content

Guanyin Gumiao Temple, Yangon

Guanyin Gumiao Temple (also known as the Guangdong Guanyin Temple) is one of two major Chinese temples located within Latha Township in Yangon's Chinatown.

It was founded by the Cantonese community of Yangon in 1823, but was destroyed by a fire in December 1855, and subsequently rebuilt in 1864, with two additional brick buildings to the side built in 1872.

The temple is located on Maha Bandula Road and is dedicated to Guanyin, a Buddhist bodhisattva corresponding to the Burmese Buddhist bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Lawka Nat).

A 1,400 year old ginkgo tree is located on the grounds which has become a tourist attraction. The tree is believed to have been planted by the Emperor Li Shimin, the founding father of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907).

Temple facade.

Tiangong censer being cleaned.

Chinese guardian lion.
Chinese guardian lions, or imperial guardian lions, are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament, but the origins lie deep in much older Indian Buddhist traditions.

  • The concept, which originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, features a pair of highly stylized lions — often one male with a ball which represents the material elements and one female with a cub which represents the element of spirit — that were thought to protect the building from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat.
  • See more at Chinese guardian lions - Wikipedia.

Entering inside the temple.

Heavenly Kings.
The Four Heavenly Kings are four Buddhist gods (devas), each of whom is believed to watch over one cardinal direction of the world.

  • In Chinese mythology, they are known as "Si Datianwang" (lit. 'Four Great Heavenly Kings') or collectively as "Feng Tiao Yu Shun" (lit. 'Good climate').
  • See more at Four Heavenly Kings - Wikipedia.

Reception and temple store.

Interior of the temple seen from the door towards the altar.

Altar with offerings.

Bronze incense burner.

Placeholder for candles.

Drum and bells.
Both bells and drums were used as musical instruments in ancient China. Later, they were used by government and communities to announce the time.


Altar on the right side of the temple.

Small altar between the main altar and the altar on the far right.

Main altar.

Chinese Fortune Sticks and Moon Blocks Divination.
Kau chim or kau cim, also known as lottery poetry, is a fortune telling practice that originated in China in which a person poses questions and interprets answers from flat sticks inscribed with text or numerals.

  • The practice is often performed in a Taoist or Buddhist temple in front of an altar.
  • See more at Kau chim - Wikipedia.

Presenting the fortune sticks.

Throwing the fortune sticks to the floor.

Picking the fortune stick from the floor.

Throwing the moon blocks to the floor.
In most cases, to confirm the validity of the answer given by the deity, the querent will pick up and toss two moon blocks or jiaobei blocks.

  • Moon blocks or jiaobei, also poe; as used in the term "poe divination"), are wooden divination tools originating from China, which are used in pairs and thrown to seek divine guidance in the form of a yes or no question.
  • See more at Jiaobei - Wikipedia.

Picking the moon blocks from the floor.

Fortune cabinet containing the fortune telling papers.
The actual fortune is then taken from a drawer marked with the number corresponding with the one on the stick.


Altar on the left side of the temple.
This altar consists of three showcases.

  • In the showcase on the right there are three larger Buddhas and one smaller one, all golden.
  • In the middle showcase there is a tiger in front of several golden figures.
  • In the showcase on the left are three white buddhas with Budai ("Fat Buddha") in front of them.

Interior of the temple seen from the altar towards the door.

See also

Source

Location

Location: Corner of Maha Bandula Road and, လသာလမ်း, ရန်ကုန်, Myanmar (Burma)