Tua Peng Kong Pagoda, Sibu

The beauty of Tua Peng Kong is the Pagoda situated in the middle of the Sibu town opposite the Sibu Central Market. 

The taoism temple was first discovered by a monk from China and the story goes on, I discover many thing about Yin and Yang it’s all about balance. 

Currently, the temple is a popular tourist spot as well locals visit frequent for prayers. 

Tan Teck Chiang is not a monk but he is the caretaker which looks after the temple affairs and such, he speaks good english and had shared many information with us during the tour around the Pagoda. Some of the remainders were still in the temple while there was a war going on back then half the temple was destroyed and was rebuild. The Taoism believe in the “Yin and Yang” everything comes in a pair, a balance.

For example, when there is God there’s also devil, good and bad. The two pieces of wood his holding is actually the Yin and Yang when two combines one places upside down as what he was holding it display as Money. Hence, with the balance only money will come and be Prosperity.

 He also mentioned that our chinese name has 3 words. Why is that so is because one of it is our surname (family name) while the other two balance out with Yin and Yang hence we have 3 words for our chinese name. 

He strongly believe that everything comes in pair and even the above which chinese uses for weddings has two heads to balance out.

Taoism actually existed way long ago before Buddhism, as China only adopted Buddhism when one of the Kings to gain power changed the religion and culture to Buddhism from the original Taoism. It’s more of a political power to rule the country than for religion he emphasized.

Many tourist visit and he will explain the origin and culture of the Taoism many media has interviewed him before including the frequent appearance in The Star. He even writes his own books and frequently read up on the history of Taoism and related topics to do his research and shares his findings to visitors, in conferences and to the media. 

Look at the dragon, at both sides its a balance too! 

It was a great eye opening experience and I felt closer to my Chinese heritage as most of us are chinese but we are born into a mix culture and many do not realized how our original culture is. Thanks to Firefly and Sarawak Tourism Board for this visit, it’s an amazing experience in Sibu!