月下老人

Yue Xia Lao Ren

Notable temple:

粤海清庙 Yuen Hai Ching Temple

月下老人(Yue Xia Lao Ren or short for Yue-Lao) is a god of marriage and love in Chinese mythology. He appears as an old man under the moon. Believers worship Yue-Lao as the God of Marriage. When Yue-Lao ties a red string to a couple(牵红线), regardless of them being arch enemies, in times of riches, poverty or how far both are away from each other, as long as the red string is tied, they will definitely be husband and wife. Hence the Chinese saying, ‘marriage of a thousand miles bond by a string’.

观音菩萨

Goddess Of Mercy

Notable temple:

观音堂佛祖庙 Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple

Guan Yin is the deity of mercy and compassion. And much like how one would seek the divine for help through prayer, Chinese families often pray to Guan Yin to attract compassion, strength to tide themselves through suffering, and overall good fortune. Guan Yin is also often considered the patron deity for mothers, and some customs believe that placing a Guan Yin statue in the home will bless the family with filial children as well as protect them from harm.

天后圣母

Mazu

Notable temple:

天福宫 Thian Hock Keng

Mazu (妈祖), also known as the Goddess of the Sea, is a sea deity popularly worshipped in the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and various parts of Southeast Asia with a sizeable Chinese population like Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. She is believed to have authority over the Four Seas Dragon Kings (四海龙王) and serves as a patron deity for seafarers and all who depend on the sea for a living. Traditionally, one prays to Mazu for peace and safety. Worship practices include ritual offerings of food and joss sticks, festivals and street processions. The existence of sea deity worship here is a reflection of Singapore’s rich migration history and maritime past.