AU2010 - Sze Yup Kwan Ti Temple

The Sze Yup Kwan Ti Temple, also known as Sze Yup Chinese Temple or the Joss House was originally opened in 1898 by immigrants from the Sze Yup area in the province of Guangdong, China.

 

 

Hidden away from the main street in Glebe, this temple is dedicated to 3rd-century folk hero Kwan Ti, a warrior and patriot in the era of the Three Kingdoms (220 – 265 AD), famous for his loyalty, physical prowess and masculinity.

 

 

In Australia, it is said that immigrant Chinese worshipped him as a wise judge, a guide and a protector.

 

 

And apparently, there are only four temples of this type in Australia, and Sze Yup temple is the most renowned.

 

 

Typical to most traditional Chinese temples, the building complex is separated into several smaller temples. The central temple is where Kwan Ti, whose embroidered image in green robes, flanked by two guards, takes centre place on the altar.

 

 

To the left, a smaller temple is dedicated to Deceased Friends (the Mortuary Chapel) and on the right, is a temple dedicated to the God of Wealth.

 

 

Having celebrated its 100th birthday 12 years ago, it is also said that the 112-year-old temple has been providing for spiritual and welfare needs of the Chinese community, offering a source of companionship, mutual assistance and accommodation for travellers, new migrants, the aged and the sick.

 

 

Since most people has a very vague recollection about the existence of a temple in Sydney, we were just glad to be able to find and finally visit Sze Yup.