Singaporean Mandarin Database
This database contains a collection of Mandarin terms which have cultural, historical or sentimental value unique to Singapore. These terms may be used by Singaporeans in the past or at present. Some of the terms are read in print while others are used in our everyday conversations.
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
DEFINITION
Noun
The largest Buddhist temple in Singapore. Also known as Kong Meng San.
由来
- 光明山普觉禅寺位于碧山（Bishan）一带。截至 2020 年，寺院的占地达 75,470 平方公尺，总面积相当于 11 个足球场，是新加坡最大的佛教寺院。
- 1921 年，首任方丈转道法师成立了光明山普觉禅寺（Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery），肩负起弘扬、学习和实践佛法的使命， 并为远道而来的僧众提供栖身之所。
- 1947 年，宏船法师接任光明山的第二任方丈。除了将光明山建造成东南亚地区较辉煌的佛教名刹，宏船法师更是不遗余力地发展和推动新加坡的佛教。
- 光明山普觉禅寺的名字启发自观自在菩萨的净土 “光明山”，“普觉” 则代表 “普遍觉悟”，提醒人们时刻遵循 “依佛法之知见，普令众生，证觉大解脱” 的使命。
- 光明山设有六处殿堂、三处祭祖功德堂以及其他设施，包括宏船法师纪念馆、池塘和书籍礼品店等。
- 寺院提供皈依、诵经祈福、火化骨灰以及安置祖先牌位等服务。
ETYMOLOGY
- Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery is located in Bishan. As of 2020, the temple covers an area of 75,470 square meters. The total area is equivalent to 11 football fields, making it the largest Buddhist temple in Singapore.
- In 1921, the place’s first abbot Venerable Zhuan Dao founded Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, where he assumed the missions to promote, master and practise Buddhism, and provide shelter for monks who came from afar.
- In 1947, Venerable Hong Choon took over as the second abbot of Kong Meng San. Besides building Kong Meng San into one of the relatively magnificent Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia, Venerable Hong Choon also spared no effort in developing and promoting Buddhism in Singapore.
- Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery was so named, inspired by the Pure Land of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) Bodhisattva, which is called “光明山” (Kong Meng San). The term “普觉” (Phor Kark) means “universal enlightenment," serving as a reminder for Buddhists to follow the Buddha's teachings, enabling all of humanity to attain great liberation through enlightenment.
- Kong Meng San is outfitted with six main halls, three ancestor worship halls, and other facilities such as the Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall, a pond, and a book and gift shop.
- The monastery offers a range of religious activities and services, such as Dharma assemblies, Dharma classes, scripture recitation, cremation, after-funeral rites, and the storage of ashes and ancestral tablets.
例句
冠病疫情持续笼罩我国，一些国人为避免在来临的清明节接触大批人潮，选择提前几周祭拜祖先，结果光明山骨灰塔及广惠肇碧山亭昨天（3 月 14 日）就有不少人前去扫墓，偶尔还是出现拥挤情况。（《联合晚报》，15/3/2020）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast its shadow over Singapore, some people choose to conduct their rites of ancestor worship a few weeks before the coming Qingming Festival, so as to avoid contact with large crowds. As a result, many people visited the Kong Meng San [Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery] Columbarium and Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng yesterday (March 14) to conduct tomb sweeping. Therefore, these places are still packed with people occasionally. (Lianhe Wanbao, 15/3/2020)