Chinese temples
In traditional Chinese buildings, the dominant feature is the roof. It gives shape to the building which otherwise would form a plain square or rectangle.
The Chinese immigrant builders and craftsmen who came to Malaysia built temples according to the architectural traditions of the southern provinces of China, mainly Fujian and Guangdong, where most of the immigrants came from. Initially, the shrines to house their gods or spirit guides were humble thatched structures, but later more elaborate temples, dedicated to deities of Taoist, Buddhist and folk beliefs as well as ancestor worship, were built. The oldest temple in Malaysia, the Cheng Hoon Teng in Melaka, is reputed to have been built in 1645.
- Information in the full article includes
- Design themes and symbolism
- Traditional methods of construction
- Layout conventions
- Features of a temple
- Spiritual spaces