The Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist temple situated in Air
Itam in Penang and is one of the best known temples on the island.The
construction of the temple began in 1893 and was inspired by the chief monk of
the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street. With the support of the consular
representative of China in Penang, the project received the sanction of the
Manchu Emperor Guangxu, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the
Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras.
The primary benefector of the the Kek Lok Si Temple in 1906
was none other than Kapitan Chung Keng Quee.In 1930, the seven storey main
pagoda of the temple or the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas, was completed. This
pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and
a Burmese crown; reflecting the temple's embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada
Buddhism.
In 2002, a 30.2m bronze statue of the Kuan Yin was completed
and opened to public. The statue is located on the hillside above the
pagoda.The rambling temple consists of many prayer halls, pagodas, bell towers
and just about every other typical temple structure you can think of, in
varying styles from Burmese to Chinese to Thai. However, two structures
dominate the scenery, especially when the temple is seen from afar. One is the
seven storey pagoda which dates from the temple's founding. The other is a huge
bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin -- a popular diety in Penang.
The statue was newly completed in mid-2003 but construction of various
surrounding structures is still under way.
极乐寺
极乐寺建于1893年，寺庙依山而建，占地12公顷。极乐寺的建设由当时任椰脚街广福宫的主持妙莲法师所启发。妙莲法师原本来自福建涌泉寺，他曾于1885年到槟城州筹募基金修建福州龟山法堂。2年后，出任椰脚街广福宫的住持。槟城极乐寺最先建立的是大士殿，5年后相继增建天王殿、大雄殿、藏经阁、东西客堂及放生池等。[1]
1930年，极乐寺内楼高7层的万佛塔正式建成。此塔的底部、中部和顶部分别采纳了中国、泰国和缅甸寺庙的设计，综合了三国寺庙的建筑风格。2002年，一座30.2公尺高的观音铜像建成。
槟城极乐寺放生池附近的山壁上刻有清末民初名士之墨迹。如果详细看这些题咏，可以发觉早期从中国南来的文人和同盟会革命志士所题的字，这些作品包括康有为所题的‘勿忘故国’四字。可惜一些题咏已因雨水侵蚀而没法辨认。极乐寺内的“ 大雄宝殿”匾额是清朝光绪皇帝御赐和题字。另一匾额“海天佛地”是慈禧太后题写。
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