Didnt see a thread about this .... but...
Was at Chinatown and noticed that .....

http://www.singaporebuddhatooth.org.sg/images/eng_index/postCard.gif

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Singapore)
As a custodian of the Buddha Sacred Tooth Relic handed over by the late Ven. Bhaddanta Cakkapala of Bandula Monastery in Mrau-U, Ven. Shi Fazhao feels that it is his duty as a monk to preserve the Buddha's legacy and to raise awareness of the precious relic and the Buddha's greatness. His dearest wish right now is to build a Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore to house the sacred relic for the veneration of future generations.

The proposed temple would serve as a centre to propagate and preserve Buddhist culture as well as to promote education. In the spirit of preserving the roots of Buddhist culture, the temple would also house a Buddhist cultural museum to showcase ancient Buddhist artefacts donated from around the world. It is aimed at reaching out to the hearts and souls of visitors — both Buddhists and non-Buddhists — so as to spread the great compassion and bodhi love of Lord Buddha.

From : http://www.singaporebuddhatooth.org.sg/Temple_Architectural_Design.html


http://img67.exs.cx/img67/2578/13of.jpg

http://img67.exs.cx/img67/2451/23jo.jpg

http://img67.exs.cx/img67/3497/30bb.jpg

Please tell me this will be built!

Amazing!

Do we have any details on height, timeframe for being built? what's on the site now etc?

Always thought singapore should build more things like this ... would seriously be a boost to the architectural quality of singapore!

Now, imagine this on marina bay, on that triangle bit, between the bfc and the sail@marina ... hmmMMmmmm

details please! :)

Please tell me this will be built!

Amazing!

Do we have any details on height, timeframe for being built? what's on the site now etc?

Always thought singapore should build more things like this ... would seriously be a boost to the architectural quality of singapore!

Now, imagine this on marina bay, on that triangle bit, between the bfc and the sail@marina ... hmmMMmmmm

details please! :)

Please refer to the postings in this thread => http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=56270&page=2

BTW, the 1st level seems to be ready when we were nearby yesterday.

I didn't realize that they were building a NEW temple here ! Woah !!!

Btw, there seems to be two very different designs from those pics... I have to say the second one doesn't look very good... I hope they go for the first one ^^

hmmm.. @hyac.
i thought that the *first story* yesterday was just some nicely nailed wooden planks and not part of the actual structure to be built?

hmmm.. @hyac.
i thought that the *first story* yesterday was just some nicely nailed wooden planks and not part of the actual structure to be built?

I saw that too... it's a temporary structure... Guessed they did a quick job to meet the CNY festival crowd! ;)

This looks nice, also in good detail.

Amazing! :eek2:

I didnt realise its going to be this majestic! It will really be a real spectacular attraction when ready

I didnt see any construction yesterday though..maybe cos it was too crowded

Especially, it is in a good position.

Amazing! :eek2:

I didnt realise its going to be this majestic! It will really be a real spectacular attraction when ready

I didnt see any construction yesterday though..maybe cos it was too crowded

The construction hasn't started yet. According to the website the building has three basements, and so construction of the foundation should be well visible and should take some time.

Anyway, if this temple will be built this is so good news for Chinatown because the conservation areas around Pagoda Street and Tanjong Pagar Road will be better connected. It's so sad to see the open space between them. And the architecture of the temple is really outstanding :) :) :) I also hope the ugly Chinatown Complex behind it will be upgraded or make way for something new ...

:eek2:

@Jandok

I guess the construction will start after Chinese New Year once all the tents are taken down :)

huh... the second one looks like a very much scaled down version of the first.. ppity.. would have been great otherwise.

hmm.. how come the on-site model and renderings are different!

Jan 22, 2005
Building of 'tooth relic' temple starts in March
Public invited to donate gold or 'adopt' part of Buddhist temple

By Tan Hui Yee

CONSTRUCTION of a temple housing a Buddha tooth relic in Chinatown will begin in March, with its management having secured a 30-year lease on a plot of land in Sago Street.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which will cost about $53 million to build, is to house more than 10,000 Buddha statues, a 6m-tall Maitreya Buddha, as well as the Tripitaka, a collection of Buddhist scriptures.

Its Buddha tooth relic will be kept in a 'stupa', a dome-shaped container more than 2m tall made of gold.

The five-storey building includes a mezzanine level and has three basement levels. It will have a wax museum and foodcourt when completed in about two years' time.

The temple's abbot, Venerable Fazhao, hopes it will invigorate Chinatown. The Singapore Tourism Board has also said previously that the project will boost the district's appeal to visitors interested in religious attractions, with the Sri Mariamman Hindu temple, Jamae Chulia mosque and Fairfield Methodist Church nearby.

The upcoming temple's deputy executive director, Mr Ee Giang Hwee, 50, told The Straits Times that the tender for its construction will be launched on Monday and will close on Feb 18. Ground-breaking is set for March 13. Mr Ee declined to reveal how much the lease on the 2,600 sq m plot cost.

He said, however, that to 'let everybody participate' in the building of the project, funds will be raised by letting the public 'adopt' parts of the building.

For example, 100 Buddha statues of about 90cm high can be 'adopted' for $100,000 each, roof tiles for $50 each, and bricks for $10 each.

The temple's management is also collecting donations of gold - in the form of chains, rings and bracelets - to be melted into the stupa used to house the Buddha tooth relic.

About 250kg of gold is needed. So far, 60kg has been collected. Also, at least $10 million has been raised for the temple's construction up till now.

Last May, about 600,000 people turned out for a five-day Buddhist relic exhibition at the Singapore Expo, where the Buddha tooth relic was also on display. The relic is currently at the Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple in Tampines, where it cannot be viewed by the public.

Plans for the new temple can be viewed at an ongoing Chinese New Year exhibition on the field where the temple is to stand. The exhibition will end on Feb 9.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

I went inside the showroom and I'm still confused. It looks like the designs are two competing projects from different contractors, but it's still unclear to me which one will be built :-/

there are posters at a number of mrt stations of the temple and they show the smaller building.

Gifts pour in for temple: 83kg of gold and $10m

27 Feb 05

All of that in three months for temple with all-gold 2m-tall stupa to be built to house sacred Buddha tooth relic

By Sharlene Tan

GRAPHIC designer Ivan See, 53, strode into the two-storey Chinatown shophouse and handed over three bulging hongbaos. Inside were nine rings, 10 chains, three bangles and three pairs of earrings, all in gold.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-02-27/8a.jpg

Two friends, housewives Lim Yah Hoe, 57, and Koh Ah Imm, 65, followed soon after, donating two gold rings, two bracelets and a necklace.

The flow of gold at 293 South Bridge Road on Wednesday afternoon has been a daily phenomenon since a Buddhist temple chose the uncommon approach of asking for gifts in gold that it will melt down to build the stupa of its new building.

The response has been overwhelming. In less than three months, about 83kg of gold, plus $10 million, have been collected for the building of the $53 million Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Sago Street.

It hit a peak in the weeks leading up to the Chinese New Year when, in 26 days, 30kg of gold, together with $4 million, were collected during the temple's Chunjie or spring festival event.

As its name indicates, the temple will house the sacred Buddha tooth relic, which attracted more than 600,000 people each time it was displayed at Suntec City, in 2002 and 2004.

The relic was passed to the Venerable Fa Zhao, 46, by the abbot of a Myanmar monastery who discovered it in 1980. It is now housed at the Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple in Tampines.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-02-27/8b.jpg

The relic will have pride of place at the pinnacle of the new five-storey temple, in a 2m-tall, all-gold stupa.

Building it requires about 250kg of gold.

At $28 per gram of gold, the 83kg of jewellery collected so far is worth more than $2 million. However, not all is pure gold. 'We get quite a bit of fake gold. But it's nobody's fault. Some donate unknowingly,' said the temple's deputy executive director Ee Tiang Hwee, who is overseeing the fund-raising from the South Bridge Road shophouse.

For many, the new temple is more than a symbol of their faith.

Said Mr See, whose gift came from family and friends: 'Here in Chinatown, we have no Buddhist symbol. It's important for us to have gen (roots), especially here.'

The area holds fond memories for the partner of a graphic design firm, who grew up in Outram Park, on the fringe of Chinatown.

Mr Tan Leng Gek, who with his family gave $200,000 to sponsor two 90cm-tall Buddha images, sees it as a cultural symbol. He said in Mandarin: 'It'll show not only tourists, but also Singaporeans, our Chinese culture.'

However, for the two housewives, it's the calling of their faith. Said Madam Koh, who gave a rarely-worn bracelet her mother had given her: 'We're just ordinary folk, it's just a small offering.'

The temple's ambition is to involve as many people as possible in its construction, which starts next month. Said Mr Ee: 'It's everyone's temple.'

Hence, the temple's bored piles, roof tiles, bricks and Buddha statues that will fill the halls are all up for sponsorship.

Many are taken. Only about 25 of 100 wooden Buddha images are waiting for donors, at $100,000 each. Similarly, with the $500 Buddha statues, made of bronze and gilded. About 6,000 of the 10,000 have names to them.

Still more of the $5,000 Maitreya Buddha images - clay tablets of the Buddha encased with metal - are available, however. Of the 3,000, about 500 have found sponsors.

Donors may also pay in instalments with, for instance, a 12- or 24-month plan for the $5,000 Maitreya Buddha.

The Venerable Fa Zhao hopes the temple, which is due to be completed in 2007, will become a landmark in Chinatown. 'In Chinatown, there is a mosque, a Hindu temple, a Taoist temple, but not one Buddhist temple... We hope that with this temple, families will come to see the museum, the stupa,' he said, referring to the temple's wax museum that will trace the history of Buddhism.

The temple's ambition is to involve as many people as possible in its construction, which starts next month.

Heh, good news ^^
I'm still hoping to see the old-style grand great looking design come up, rather than the new cheap pagoda-style one...

Very ornate. Not a bad looking building. Now we need a Gothic Cathedral as well. :)

Now we need a Gothic Cathedral as well. :)

Seconded ! ^^

St Andrews is gothic-style isnt? ^^

Ya... quite a few, in fact...

Is it ?
It doesn't really look like a cathedral to me, to begin with... More like a village church ^^

I think Singapore needs a Basilica!:D

Anyways, I thought this was like a temporary tentage which will house the tooth for a few months in the tooth relic world tour.:D

Looks like its real, wow!

;)

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/380/templemodel3rx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

11 May 2005

http://************/51syls

:lol:

I was there on 11 May too! :eek:

http://img175.echo.cx/img175/8464/dsc42276dr.jpg

how uncanny! :happy:

impressive! Based on land size i guess it won't be as big as I imagined when 1st saw the model :)

30 Sep 05

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9892/temple30097ez.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

hmmm... not much progress?

I'm not sure what they have done..didnt seem to dig much yet...

anyway I dont like its siting...cos it blocks the facades of the shophouses...they should have sited it differently...I'm sure it will perk the interest of tourists though, at least visually.

hmmm... not much progress?


Still lacking of fund ($35.6m):

http://www.singaporebuddhatooth.org.sg/Index_Fund.html

May be should ask uncle Li (Ka Shing) for some fund to speed up the project.

In that case, they should have raised sufficient funds first.

Ask Uncle Bill (Gates). :lol: :D

Uncle Bill will only donate unsold xbox titles.

Uncle Li donated quite a bit of money to temples in asia, including a sum of $5m to a Singapore temple.

http://www.lksf.org/eng/project/culture/anique/main01.shtml

Have already written an email to uncle Li (on his website)
As a kind donor, I hope he can help on this fund raising exercise.

26th November
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/05/051126_chinatown04.jpg
Sorry for the partial view only :-) At least it's showing some progress.

maybe, it has raised enough funds to build the area...

In fact I sort of doubt the owners would get granted a construction permit if they are enable to show enough funding capacity to finish the building :-)
The only building that I know in Singapore to lay unfinished is some kind of industrial warehouse near Tuas ^ ^

30/11/05

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1460/dsc0049716jd.jpg

This looks nice.....:yes:

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1329/dsc0049913oz.jpg

Based on the latest figure published at their website as @ 15th Oct 2005, they have raised S$18m, still shortage of S$34m.
With millions of devoted buddhists in Asia, they will definitely find some one to take up the rest of the bill. Futher more, they still have 2 years to raise rest of the cash.

S$34million is alot of money... unless they can find 34 organisations to donate $1 million each.

S$34million is alot of money... unless they can find 34 organisations to donate $1 million each.

They have a Ancestral Tablets Chamber @ Mezzaine level of the temple that host Ancestral Tablet Slot @ S$30,000 per tablet.

1000 x S$30000 = S$30m

Can raise S$30m if they able to market 1000 slots.

S$34million is alot of money... unless they can find 34 organisations to donate $1 million each.

Well I don't know anything about this cult in particular, but I've been pretty amazed by the ability of some other cults in Singapore to raise huge amounts of money by 'almost voluntary' donation from their believers ;-)
So I think there's hope :-)
As I said, I doubt they'll left something unfinished here so I suppose that even if they can't raise the sum, they have some cash reserve allowing them to complete the project.

Looking at the site, I think the construction is progressing well

This is just my personal opinion but a lot of these donated money went to unnecessary luxuries. I just find it revolting.

The original budget was S$52m but has been increased to S$59m (7 million more) lately. Hope they are not building another China Emperor's Forbidden City here

I find it a little fake....but maybe it will be an additional attraction in Chinatown.

Then again, even on HK's Lantau Island they are building another modern temple over there.

11 Jan 2006

Looks huge.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/876/dscn24966vv.jpg

Excavation underground.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1663/dscn24973dq.jpg

I think the condo at Natwest site will face the Banda flats and this temple directly for lower floors. CNY greetings from the Temple.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/103/dscn25063nc.jpg

This is gonna be an exciting project

12/2/06

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6123/dsc0179819iz.jpg

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/3455/dsc0177219ww.jpg

22nd May

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengssc/img/060522_chinatown_temple01.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengssc/img/060522_chinatown_temple02.jpg

I see this pretty often that its become a bit mundane...but looking at the progress, it has come a long way and its huge!

wonder how much more to go before it reaches the roof.

according to its website, it has reached the topmost floor :)
http://www.btrts.org.sg/Contractor_Activities_Content.html

Here's the ceremony conducted after the completion of the topmost floor.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/MWSnap027.jpg

what an interesting sight!

I think this could become something to 'enhance' the image of the area...my only gripe is that it blocks off the view of the shophouses from the field!

WOW, stake is getting bigger and bigger. We are going to become a H O L L Y L A N D soon. A buddist association here is planning for a S$100m buddha Relic Museum with World tallest Pagoda.



格鲁巴佛学会要筹1亿元
　　兴建舍利博物馆和宝塔

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



● 潘星华

程友明（摄）

本地格鲁巴佛学会将筹款1亿元，兴建“新加坡舍利博物馆和宝塔”，让它成为全世界佛教徒朝圣地，和非佛教徒研究文化之地。

　　新加坡格鲁巴佛学会导师全熹仁波切睿吉祥活佛（43岁）是西藏活佛转世，已在新加坡弘法十多年。他受访时说，这项估计费时5年至10年的工程，将争取政府的协助，以获得拨地。

　　他说：“我有着全世界数量和种类最多、历史最悠久、最缤纷七彩的几亿颗佛牙舍利、骨舍利、发舍利、肉舍利、脑舍利、血舍利等，它们来自佛陀释迦牟尼、十大弟子、五大比丘、十六罗汉、五百罗汉等知名佛教人物。”

　　“如果能建成完善的舍利资料馆，不只能吸引全世界佛教徒朝圣，也能让考古学者、文化爱好者及游客等来瞻礼。”

　　全熹仁波切说，佛陀舍利是2500年以上历史的珍贵古物，不单是佛教传世的圣物，也是人类历史文化的第一级文物。“对佛教信徒来说，见舍利如见释迦牟尼，能见一面，重罪能减，因此舍利博物馆必能引起瞩目。”

　　他希望能物色一块面积较大的地段，以在舍利博物馆旁建起全世界最高宝塔。

馆里具舍利展示柜

　　他说：“佛教舍利一般密封宝塔内，信徒无从瞻仰。所以我们要建有展示柜的博物馆，让信徒能与佛陀舍利面对面，如与佛陀见面。世界佛教圣地有很多宝塔，却没有博物馆，因为他们没有足够的舍利供展览。宝塔里的舍利只要有一两颗就行，信徒一般是绕塔得爱心、善心。看不到舍利，绕绕也好。我们除了博物馆，还要建世界最高宝塔，为的也是能把舍利永存在内，几千年不动。到他日开塔时，舍利已增长迅速，数量大增。”

　　全熹仁波切说，他手上的佛陀舍利，除从世界各地收集回来，舍利本身也进行着生生不断活动，数量不断加大。

　　他说：“舍利没有生命，却有生的功能。佛陀释迦牟尼圆寂成佛，自己化火燃烧，留下8万4000颗舍利，经过2500年，这8万4000颗舍利已再生出上亿颗粒了。”

　　新加坡格鲁巴佛学会将在今年12月9日至17日在新加坡博览中心第三展览厅举办“佛陀与诸大弟子舍利文化世界大展”，作为世界巡回展第一站，并为兴建新加坡舍利博物馆筹款。

　　本月19日和20日，格鲁巴佛学会将在新加坡博览中心“C”停车场举办世界最大沙坛城大火供，以火供来超度死者，并为生者克服一切障碍及增长财富、福德、智慧，并祈求风调雨顺、国泰民安、国运昌隆。

　　全熹仁波切说，筹办舍利博物馆工程浩大，急需各界挺身扶助，有意协助者可与格鲁巴佛学会联系，地址是17J，Lorong 15，Geylang Road，Singapore 388608。电话:6741-1552，6842-4538。

how tall?

omg ... nice nice ... :P:P

where would the tallest pagoda be built?

It would still be subject to height controls ;-P

anyway the wrapping for the Tooth Relic Temple is being removed, with the top of the temple visible

how tall?
This is the tallest Pagoda in China
http://www.changzhou.gov.cn/PortalIPS/Storage/images/5153/8b.jpg
"The 153.79-meter-high pagoda in Tianning Temple is the tallest Buddhist pagoda in China."

"A 153.79-meter-tall pagoda, the tallest pagoda in China at the Tianning (Heavenly Peace) Temple has been built. The pagoda was completed in 2004 at a cost of 150 million yuan (US $ 18 million)."

I'm not sure about world's tallest Pagoda, but it would most probably be this one.

153.79 metres slightly is taller than the Pinnacle @ Duxton

It sounds ambitious to beat that.

Wow,imagine a 245 metres pagoda... :bash:

what would they fill it with? urns? that'd be nice - the first (?) columbarium super tower! could be a tourist attraction!

imagine you go visit your beloved passed ones, then have lunch at a revolving restaurant at the top themed on chinese superstitious....

LOL ^^

5 November 2006

a carpark is also being constructed next to the temple to accomodate coaches

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/RCSSC/btrt0511.jpg

^ wow....thats fast.....when's the opening? :D

Geez ! I didn't know it was so close to completion... Way cool and great shot, by the way :-)

Thanks...I hope the roofdeck will allow visitors to take pics :)

Not sure when it will open hopefully by Chinese New Year

A fortune in donations buried in Chinatown temple

6 Nov 06

1,700kg of jewellery given by 15,000 devotees sealed in three vaults at site


A VERITABLE treasure trove lies in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown.
Buried in the Sago Street site's three vaults - a combined volume of 11 sqm - is 1,700kg of jewellery donated by 15,000 Buddhist devotees in September and last month.

They queued up to drop valuables into collection holes, which have since been sealed with concrete. The temple is slated to be completed in February next year.

One donor, Madam Cheng Soh Mui, 54, offered a bangle her late mother left as her dowry.

'I never got married, so I'm giving the bangle on my mother's behalf for her to be blessed,' said the hawker.

Other donations appear throughout the temple.

Its $59 million construction cost is offset by public sponsorships - people pay to 'adopt' statues, lamps and tiles, even thousands of small Buddha idols there.

Donations also purchased a 5m-tall Maitreya Buddha statue and a 2.5m-high Kwan Yin statue imported from Taiwan, as well as gold tiles for its main hall.

The 11-member Buddha Tooth Relic Temple management committee says it has raised $39 million so far, and expects the rest to come from continued donations.

The Venerable Fazhao, head abbot and chairman of the temple's management, hopes its grandeur will make it a Chinatown landmark.

'Some people say that the money could have been better used for charity, but I disagree,' said the Venerable Fazhao, 48, in Mandarin. He himself donated $1 million from the sale of a bungalow his mother gave him.

'Parting with material possessions requires she xin (sacrifice in Chinese), the highest form of respect,' he said.

Or, in the words of Madam Ho Chai Ling, 58, who paid $1,500 to adopt three small Buddha statues: 'It's good for my karma and I do what I can to support such a beautiful temple.'


By Adeline Chia

Wow! They know where to look should government bank reserves dwindle!

That's a very impressive temple and will be a brilliant landmark for this end of Chinatown, it's also been built incredibly quickly!

WOW, stake is getting bigger and bigger. We are going to become a H O L L Y L A N D soon. A buddist association here is planning for a S$100m buddha Relic Museum with World tallest Pagoda.
That would be very impressive, but does the article say where the pagoda would go? The field next door to the temple maybe?

The temple is built too close to the row of shophouses I feel. Will look a little better on the vacant land next to its current site.

Yeah, I see what you mean, it is a massive building and somewhat overshadows the shophouses. Are there to be any street level uses of the temple building opposite the shophouses? I hope it's not going to be just a blank wall, that's not good for urban vibrancy...

Think they'll open the sides for better crowd control. But, the street nearer to the shophouses will be very crowded on special occasions. See the picture taken by RafflesCity.


http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/380/templemodel3rx.jpg

Ah right, I see what you mean, it's an open plan design. It's good the outer walls are not solid and featureless and the covered walkway around the base will echo the five-foot ways of the shophouses opposite, do you know if the walkways will be ordinarily be open for the public to wander along or is the barrier only taken away when large crowds are using the building? A bit of extra sun and rain cover is always welcome in Singapore!

Edit:
I've just looked up the more recent renders and it answers my own question, yes it is going to open to the public to walk along, the fences shown in the model are taken away in the render (well that's presuming the far side is the same as the near side in the render):
http://lambcutlet.org/albums/Chinatown/An_artists_rendition_of_the_final_Buddha_Tooth_Relic_Temple_from_a_birds_eye_view.sized.jpg
(high-res version: http://lambcutlet.org/albums/Chinatown/An_artists_rendition_of_the_final_Buddha_Tooth_Relic_Temple_from_a_birds_eye_view.jpg)

A welcome thing in my opinion, it'll mean that even though the temple is built very close to the road, there will be quite a lot of public space. Also the street looks resurfaced and pedestrainised, another positive addition.

I personally think its an hideous eyesore.

^^Well, thats agreeable.:)

^^Well, thats agreeable.:)

its chinatown land in kreta ayer...:ohno:
too commercialise. poor project by STB

My main gripe with it is that it hides the natural and original faces of the shophouses that this giant blocks.

The shophouses to me are the real face of Singapore....whereas this temple is a fake attempt at asserting a Chinese identity.

Even if Chinatown needed a new temple....it could have been sited somewhere else and not smack next to the shophouses.

The worse thing is that it is a modern concrete replica temple of a northern chinese building, no relation to our tropical or cultural architecture at all.

Oh ya, and its overwhelming scale.:(

I just don't like the fact that they asked for money to build this unnecessarily excessive thing. Personally, it makes me wonder the purpose of adopting a religion.

I just don't like the fact that they asked for money to build this unnecessarily excessive thing. Personally, it makes me wonder the purpose of adopting a religion.

The tons of jewelry and money could have been better used to help the poor and the destitute .... like the families who lost their breadwinners. Imagine how many MRT track jumpers would be saved if the wealth have been properly allocated to families on the verge of suicides and despair.

A bird's eye view does makes the ares looks like old china, korea or japan. Houses that are closed together and the fragility of the place. It sure reflects the area of the early 19th Singapore except for the dirt and smells.

I say, wait to see the finished product before trashing it ;-)

Trust me. Seeing the completed thing would only bring more grief.

I should re-phrase.

My issue with it is not how its going to look but rather, the intention behind it and its necessasity. Given that, whether its completed or not doesn't make a difference.

Looking at the brighter side, it could be good if the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple after completion could raise substantial charity money for the old and needy.

Venerable Shi Ming Yi , Abbot of Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery every year raise around 10 million dollars for Ren Ci Hospital.

I should re-phrase.

My issue with it is not how its going to look but rather, the intention behind it and its necessasity. Given that, whether its completed or not doesn't make a difference.

My point of view would rather be that you can't judge a building on the intention or the necessity.

Think of the Eiffel Tower.
Intention ? To promote Gustave Eiffel steel industry.
Necessity ? None at all.
You could say the same kind of thing of Chrysler's spire or even of the Petronas Towers, or a lot of the giant cathedrals in Europe or of the Taj Mahal, there are countless examples. Eventually all those buildings ended up appreciated by people.

To me buildings are what people make of them. So the intention might not be initially good or the purpose unclear... But then only time will tell.

7 January 2007

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/RCSSC/temple0701.jpg

Wow! nice! Long time no update. hehe

It looks pretty to me. Reminds me of china.

8 Jan 2007

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSCF0457.jpg

Wow.... makes me feel like being transported back to ancient China. :lol:

The temple does seem to complement the more authentic shophouses in that angle and appears to blend it.

I suppose it will age gracefully and adopt a 'Chinatown-ish' look :D

I think it's too big for the streetscape. I rather some developer rebuild the shophouses there.

From some conservation perspectives, that would be disrespectful to the original shophouses IMO...not that this idea lessens the impact of this temple...

I think it's a very good thing :) ... give it 10 years and people will think of it as some 'old' temple in Singapore :D

Hopefully they turn the green area next to this temple into a small park.

There are about 2 plots of vacant grassy land next to the temple. One is now already being turned into a carpark (expected tourist coaches?).

As for the other plot...I think they should leave it vacant so that it can continue to be a place for hosting various community activities and festivals throughout the year :)

Architecturally I like this building but I do think it's a monumental waste of money that could have been used to help aleviate so much poverty.

I heard from my lecturers that the plot that this building stands on right now used to be a cemetery or something, so they(ura) sort of jumped at the chance of someone actually wanting to develop the land and gave the ok.

I may have heard wrongly...

I heard from my lecturers that the plot that this building stands on right now used to be a cemetery or something, so they(ura) sort of jumped at the chance of someone actually wanting to develop the land and gave the ok.

I may have heard wrongly...

If you believe some people, it would seem that almost every single building in Singapore has been built on a cemetary ^ ^

Very common practice here. Cementry sites in Singapore that have been redeveloped:

1. Meritus Mandarin Hotel site @ Orachard Road
2. The entire "Bishan"

Of course you'll have to take into consideration the developer, someone who wants to build in chinatown would naturally be slightly more superstitious than a capitalist hotelier. Anyways, Thats just what I think I heard, and I have mentioned, I may be wrong.:)

Even Ngee Ann City used to be a cemetry plot.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1285/p1000395uo1.jpg

Looks majestic :)

woah....

From a secular standpoint, not sure if this was really appropriate...but it would still offer quite scenic views

Wonder if they'll lit up the building at night?? :happy:

I think that would be a good idea :happy:

Wonder if they'll lit up the building at night?? :happy:

will definitely lit-up, see the link below:

http://www.btrts.org.sg/VesakOpening/Index_Vesak_Carnival.html

They are organising a one month celebration (19.5 to 10.6.07) for the 2551 birthday of Buddha. Jesus is 2007 years.

Well it's certainly impressive, and it'll make Chinatown feel, well... more Chinese at least! I'm of two minds about this really because, architecturally it's quite an interesting addition to Chinatown, but I do feel it's a rather big waste of money which really could have gone towards much more noble causes.

Well it's certainly impressive, and it'll make Chinatown feel, well... more Chinese at least! I'm of two minds about this really because, architecturally it's quite an interesting addition to Chinatown, but I do feel it's a rather big waste of money which really could have gone towards much more noble causes.

Financially, it might be a waste of money but this building means a lot to the devotees and it cannot be measured with money.

I saw from the threads that this building is mostly funded by donations. It is too simple to say that if the donors do not donate for this building they will automatically donote the money to other charities.

Wow - what a lovely building!

I do question the necessity to spend $62 million. Afterall, was it about abundance? I don't think so. Devotion can be measured in more meaningful ways.

AG

I do question the necessity to spend $62 million. Afterall, was it about abundance? I don't think so. Devotion can be measured in more meaningful ways.

i guess u havent seen the giant and luxurious mosques the build in malaysia..all using taxpayers money.
Other religions have zero allocation of taxpayers money to build places of worship...all of them are built by donations.

i guess u havent seen the giant and luxurious mosques the build in malaysia..all using taxpayers money.
Other religions have zero allocation of taxpayers money to build places of worship...all of them are built by donations.

and your point being?

if its not from taxpayers money and if the money donated is not squandered like NKF's(old)...then its alright.

if its not from taxpayers money and if the money donated is not squandered like NKF's(old)...then its alright.

$62 mil building? Solid gold statue? I call that squandering already. Your mileage may varies...

$62 mil building? Solid gold statue? I call that squandering already. Your mileage may varies...

can melt back during recession :D

I buy the gold back using market rate less 20%.

$62 mil building? Solid gold statue? I call that squandering already. Your mileage may varies...

The story is , to the devotees, a relic tooth of Sakyamuni is invaluable .....

Hope the tooth is still inside the gold statue.

awwww...raff archived this..hehe

its completed already, or more or less :)

There's a graphic in ST that says the drum and bell of the temple will be sounded everyday.

Bell will sound 108 times at 4:30am and 8:15pm. :eek: Can this be true?

$62 mil building? Solid gold statue? I call that squandering already. Your mileage may varies...

It's like how ancient churches and cathedrals are so grand.

Buddha's Tooth is a priceless religious relic, like any religious relics, it's an honour to be housed here.

Having hard time: - Someone has questioned the authenticity of the Buddha tooth in local Chinese newspaper here:

Points raised in his article:

1. Currently there are only two known real Buddha tooth in the world, one in China and another in Sri Lanka.

2. The size of the tooth in display is too huge, supected might be the tooth of dead animal.

3. Suggested to the temple to send the tooth out for DNA and certify the authenticity of the tooth by a qualified dentist.







佛牙是真的吗？


● 叶国锋
　　今年5月中，在佛牙寺正式开幕之前，该寺住持法照法师对《联合早报》说：“缅甸的金塔供奉的是佛祖的八根头发，所以又叫‘发塔’。我们的金塔，供奉的是佛祖的牙齿和舍利，所以，又叫‘佛牙舍利塔’。”这番话，已经斩钉截铁的向公众宣示，佛牙寺内所供奉的是货真价实的“佛牙舍利”。

　　在2002年8月和2004年5月，同样是由法照法师担任住持的护国金塔寺便两度举办“佛牙舍利文物展”，让公众观赏“佛牙舍利”。在它所印制的卡片《珍贵的佛牙舍利》上便写道：“佛陀这颗珍贵的智慧齿舍利长三英寸，有三个牙根，位于左下颔，牙侧有牙沟，能发挥‘自我清洁’的功能。”令人好奇的是，举办者到底是根据哪部佛典来提供如此详尽的说明，否则又怎能如此确定呢？

　　第二度展览期间，护国金塔寺还呼吁公众捐献金条和金饰，以熔铸成“佛牙舍利塔”，作为供奉“佛牙舍利”之用。同时也提出筹建佛牙寺的计划，以此向公众募捐建寺经费。

　　根据佛牙寺网站所提供的数字，这所佛寺的建筑总费用约6200万元。截至今年5月30日，它已经向公众募得约4300万元，再加上公众已承诺的约200万元捐款，尚欠1700万元才达到筹款目标。换言之，佛牙寺未来还会继续向公众募捐。

　　

佛牙真假关系重大

　　　　

　　既然佛牙寺是一家公益机构，建寺目的又纯粹是为了供奉“佛牙”，它确实有必要郑重向公众披露，它所藏的是否是真正的佛牙？而且，基于以下的理由，我们必须认识到“佛牙”的真实性关系重大：

　　一、佛牙寺已向佛教徒和公众人士募得巨款和约273公斤的黄金，作为建寺和建佛牙舍利塔之用，而且筹募工作至今仍在进行；因此，唯有向公众证明它所珍藏的“佛牙”是真品，才能显示它的筹款活动是正当之举；
二、佛牙寺住持和执行委员会将这颗据说是在缅甸发现的牙齿视为佛陀的牙齿，以此向佛教徒、公众、旅客及世人展示和募款，这些都关系到新加坡佛教界和新加坡作为旅游地点的名誉，绝对不能等闲视之；
　　三、佛牙寺已经邀请纳丹总统在卫塞节当天主持开幕。

　　我们必须以谨慎和客观的态度来分析“佛牙”的真假，以及有关问题。在佛牙寺所出版的“新加坡佛牙寺建筑纪实》这本特刊中，有关建寺缘起部分，便告诉公众，这颗佛牙是由缅甸僧人务舍葛帕喇大和尚在缅甸发现，之后交给法照法师建寺供养。然而，佛牙寺并未进一步提供证据来证明”佛牙“的真实性。

　　其实，这颗牙齿是否真的是佛陀的牙齿，可以轻而易举的通过脱氧核糖核酸（DNA）来鉴定，或者由牙医来证实。毫无疑问，如要破解这个谜团，这是最合乎医学和科学原则，而且也是正确的途径。

　　事实上，当佛牙寺住持和执行委员会将这颗牙齿向世人展示之前，原本就应该作好DNA鉴定，或由牙科专家证明。这是他们最基本的责任，否则他们凭什么向公众确保这颗“佛牙”的真实性？如果最终发现这颗牙齿并非“佛牙”，其严重后果可想而知！对于所有的新加坡人来说，那将是一件非常尴尬的事。况且，如果最终证实这颗牙齿是赝品，对于那些以此为名募捐得来的款项和黄金，又将如何交代？

　　除了DNA测试之外，我们也可以从佛经中找到明确的指示，从而对这事件有更深入的了解。在这方面，我们可以参考《三十二相经》和《大涅槃经》。

　　

须以科学方法证明佛牙真假

　　　　

　　在《三十二相经》里，便特别点出佛陀的牙齿是“平齿”。只要仔细观看佛牙寺中所展示的“佛牙”，就可以轻易看出，到底这颗牙齿是否“平齿”！
《大涅槃经》并没有提到牙齿，也没有提到佛陀入灭荼毗后还留下多少佛牙舍利。这部经只提到佛陀荼毗之后的骨头，这也是有关佛骨最详尽的记载，因为这些都是由佛陀的大弟子之一、拥有超凡记忆的阿难尊者所记。其他由后人所加入、同原典有出入的部分，大可不必相信。
　　除了我所提到的这些之外，我们也可以用常理来推断。单从这颗“佛牙”的体积大小，任何牙医都能断定到底这颗牙齿是否是一颗人齿。以它的体积，可以想象拥有这颗牙齿的人，口腔必然非常巨大，而这么巨大的口腔也必然不是人类。

　　事实上，在缅甸的许多佛塔内，都可以找到许多这类牙齿。许多曾到缅甸朝圣的佛教徒都可以轻易看到，有些新加坡人还曾经得到缅甸佛寺的馈赠。据我所知，在新加坡就可以找到几颗类似的牙齿。我们不应该在毫不思索、毫不求证的情况下，便相信这些牙齿都是“佛牙”！

　　根据史实，佛陀所留存下来的佛牙至今只有两颗，一颗在斯里兰卡，一颗供奉在中国北京西山八大处灵光寺的佛牙舍利塔内，自新中国成立至今，曾先后运到缅甸、泰国和香港展示。

　　北京所藏的佛牙是在唐朝时传入中国，后由辽朝宰相耶律仁先之母燕国太夫人在北京西山翠微寺建造佛塔供奉，事已详载于《辽史》。这颗佛牙藏于翠微寺约830年，至1900年八国联军攻入北京时，险些毁于战火。之后，才转移到灵光寺供奉。

　　至于在中国五台山、峨眉山等地陆续发现的“佛牙”，经过专家鉴定后，都证明不是真正的“佛牙”。因此，世上的佛牙至今仍然只有两颗。如今佛牙寺宣称它拥有真正的佛牙，便有必要提供确凿的证据，否则难以取信于人。

　　佛陀教导我们必须具有智慧，不是无明、愚昧，而且也应该勇于质疑，不是盲目相信。因此，我们不应该愚昧到不经任何验证、仔细检查或分析，便断定佛牙寺所藏的牙齿即是“佛牙”。

·作者是佛教文化研究者

So who will provide dental records of Buddha for verfication?

Been there, done tht (rotate that "heng heng wheel that makes a click sound at every turn") ... seen it...(the buddha made of pure gold donated by the devotees, no photography allowed)

so my trip today shld do me some good to my karma ... and on a Christams day.. oh-mi-tor-hut...

enjoy the photos, now that so many old timers has stop posing photos, i think bystanders like me shld now do my part and atone for my sins for failing to do so before...

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8444/dscf6640sv2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1641/dscf6641bz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2974/dscf6643oy7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7595/dscf6644lz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3916/dscf6646yf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9331/dscf6647oy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5161/dscf6648nr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wah great job....;)

Seems like a peaceful place in the bustling city...:yes:

Been there, done tht (rotate that "heng heng wheel that makes a click sound at every turn") ... seen it...(the buddha made of pure gold donated by the devotees, no photography allowed)

so my trip today shld do me some good to my karma ... and on a Christams day.. oh-mi-tor-hut...

enjoy the photos, now that so many old timers has stop posing photos, i think bystanders like me shld now do my part and atone for my sins for failing to do so before...

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8444/dscf6640sv2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1641/dscf6641bz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2974/dscf6643oy7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7595/dscf6644lz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3916/dscf6646yf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9331/dscf6647oy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5161/dscf6648nr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice pictures. I like the reflective tiles in the second last picture. What are they? Granite?

oh actually the tiles are reflective becuase it was drizzling at the time when i took the pic.

The original tiles actually has a greyish matt look. This place is worth a visit definitely, quite educational for me... look at the artifacts, the building structure and the attention to details on every inch of tht building.

oh actually the tiles are reflective becuase it was drizzling at the time when i took the pic.

The original tiles actually has a greyish matt look. This place is worth a visit definitely, quite educational for me... look at the artifacts, the building structure and the attention to details on every inch of tht building.

The tiles look nicer when reflective. So lets hope it rains more! :nuts:

What was the entrance the "reflective" tiles were leading to?

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3916/dscf6646yf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

it was leading to this wheel... u see them always in movies about tibet, the thing they turn as they enter a building.... just tht this wheel in the picture happen to be the biggest one in the world as claim by the introduction

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3916/dscf6646yf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

it was leading to this wheel... u see them always in movies about tibet, the thing they turn as they enter a building.... just tht this wheel in the picture happen to be the biggest one in the world as claim by the introduction

Oh my, first time I have seen it in my lift :lol:

What's that for?

Hey ahlipp, nice seing you're still around :-)
Thanks for the pics!

Hey ahlipp, nice seing you're still around :-)
Thanks for the pics!

Did ahlipp even leave? Anyway, I like his/her photos of Parc Emily..:)

Hey ahlipp, nice seing you're still around :-)
Thanks for the pics!

good to hear from you Pengui! i'm always ard ... only enjoying other people's effort... haha ... doin my bit now ... though it's a little saddening to see lesser picture posts these days n more market talk

wah...the woodwork is awesome.