Hung on the verandah are two large lanterns visible from afar. The lantern on the right bears the temple's name in Chinese 釋迦院, written in red, while the one on the left displays an image of a meditating Buddha.

These lanterns are culturally significant to the Peranakan Buddhist community here. The Peranakan (an adjective meaning “born of”) were among the first waves of Southern Chinese settlers in maritime Southeast Asia, known as Nanyang. They arrived in significant numbers between the 14th and 17th centuries, settling in Melaka, Singapore, and Penang.

Traditional lanterns were brought to the region during the Ming Dynasty when the Chinese mariner and explorer Zheng He visited Malacca around 600 years ago. While this practice is no longer common among the general public, these ancient lantern styles are still cherished by the Peranakans of Malaysia, who are known for their deep appreciation of their heritage.

To the Peranakans, lanterns symbolize more than just light. They represent good fortune and well wishes and are heirlooms passed down through generations. Families may also order another pair of lanterns to mark important occasions like weddings, birthdays, full and new moon observations, and ancestral worship days.

Made of bamboo and cotton cloth, surname lanterns are named for the Chinese characters painted on them, they may also represent the family's "coat of arms." They also indicate the region of the surname's origin and feature unique patterns and drawings symbolizing aspects of Chinese culture, such as the Eight Immortals or dragons.

If properly cared for, these lanterns can last for decades.


The Lanterns of Seck Kia Eenh (SKE)

The large lanterns hanging on the verandah outside the temple fulfill the traditional motifs and functional purpose of Peranakan culture.



According to Cedric Tan, Deputy President of SKE, the lanterns provide identity to both the culture of the community and Buddhism.

"The SKE lanterns serve a dual purpose: they provide the temple's address and signify that it is a Buddhist place of worship," he explains.

Inside the shrine hall, three lanterns can be seen. The one in the middle, between the two cloth lanterns, is an octagonal-shaped wooden lantern. This is a traditional wood-carved Chinese oil lamp, commonly seen in Hokkien community and temple establishments. At the bottom of this lamp is a "pakua/bagua" or "the Eight Trigram," an octagonal amulet divided into eight sections, a universal symbol of feng shui (chinese geomancy).



Although SKE is a Buddhist institution, it decided to keep this oil lamp in its premise as it is considered a historical object, a cultural remnant of the past. Made of nam wood (Chinese: 楠木), a precious wood unique to China and South Asia, it is skillfully adorned with red and gold paints. In Chinese culture, red symbolizes fire, good fortune, and joy, while gold represents wealth and prosperity. Together, they convey a message of good fortune and prosperity for everyone.



The cloth lanterns inside the shrine hall are smaller versions of the ones outside on the verandah. They represent the name of the temple and feature a colourful sitting Buddha with His right hand touching the ground, also known as the "Buddha calling the Earth to Witness" (bhumisparsha mudra).

At the bottom of these cloth lanterns are colourful adornments of cloud designs. Each of these lanterns costs about RM 3,000 per pair at the time of purchase. They were made by specialist artisans in Ipoh.

"These lanterns were made a few years ago with the contributions of 200 people, each donating RM 30 to produce them," said Cedric. "The aim was to share merits among devotees, rather than to have just a single donor. This way, we also convey the Dharma teaching of dana (making offerings), by enabling more people to share the blessing," he explains.

While the lanterns inside the temple compound are made of cloth and rattan, the processional lanterns are produced using traditional rice paper and rattan strips. Although these lanterns do not last as long as the cloth ones, they play a unique role in preserving Peranakan culture.

"The processional lanterns are hand-carried, a practice that has been kept alive by SKE to this day. You can see this during the annual Wesak procession," explains Cedric.



Though it might appear mundane, the ritual of hand-carrying paper lanterns with long strips of red cloth behind them holds deep significance for the Peranakan community. Unlike the usual single lantern and red cloth, SKE uses six strips of red cloths called "caiki," a tradition passed down by Hokkien ancestors from Fujian province in China. The six red banners used during the Wesak procession are also inspired by traditional Baba-Nyonya wedding processions, where such arrangements signify a grand occasion.


Other Unique Adornments at SKE

Inside the temple, as one moves through doors from one room to another, name plaques above the doors with cloths hanging below them can be seen. These are half-curtain silk cloth door covers, which are mainstay adornments in Peranakan homes.



These door covers were originally imported from Suzhou, China. They are mainly silk cloths embroidered with colored cotton threads.

These cloths are prominent items in Peranakan heirlooms and could be used as bed and table covers, altar covers, and long door curtains. Many of these cloths have red, pink, and purplish backgrounds, with popular symbols such as the god of longevity, a deer and crane, and a pair of foo dogs (stone lions or shishi [石獅]) embroidered on them. These are typical symbols of longevity and prosperity common in Chinese culture.



During grand ceremonial occasions such as Lunar New Year, Qing Ming, Wesak, or Ullambana, when the main and ancestral altars are colourfully decorated with food, fruits, flowers, cakes, sweets, drinks, etc., the display of these silk cloths on the altar goes hand in hand with Peranakan-styled offerings.

These days, a copy of the original cloth are used for this purpose. It not only adds colour to the overall display but also serves as a reminder of its presence in the heirloom and its role in connecting generations along the family's ancestral lines.


Melakan Peranakan and Buddhism

SKE is more than just a Buddhist temple. Today, it preserves Peranakan practices such as offering full ancestral prayers at the columbarium, currently offering vegetarian foods on holy observance days, and educating the new generation on maintaining the community's customary protocols and the hanging of red cloth or ang chai on main entrances all year long, but changed annually.

SKE also organizes activities that epitomizes the diffusion of values and shared meanings through its coexistence with many other cultures from different communities.



An example is the temple's symbiosis with the Chitty community located nearby. The Chitty’s are known as the "Indian Peranakans" and have adopted mostly Malay and Chinese cultural practices whilst also retaining their Hindu faith and heritage. Every year around Wesak, during a 10 day Hindu prayers period held at the nearby Sri Muthu Mariamman temple, SKE makes offerings to deities worshipped by the Chitty, such as Goddess Mariamman. In return, on Wesak day, the Chitty community reciprocates by making offerings to the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) at SKE.

As Cedric aptly describes it, "… this practice of reciprocal visits during major festivals has been going on for years and has strengthened the bonds between the local Hindu Chitty community and the nearby Buddhist community. Mutual respect has been the key trait in these two communities and the local communities' rich and unique customs and practices were happily observed. We are grateful to our elders for instilling and promoting these exchanges and hopefully such exchanges will last for many generations to come."


When Tradition Makes Peaceful Steps with Religion

Today, SKE is a living testimony that a community's traditions can coexist with the flourishing of religion. One's way of life can still be maintained, and perhaps even enriched, by the values of the religion they practice.

SKE exemplifies how tradition and religion can coexist harmoniously, as seen in the integration of cultural artefacts into temple adornments and the presence of culture in its activities. It shows that understanding, guided by compassion and wisdom - the core of Buddhist practice - can foster peaceful coexistence. Through these values, SKE serves as an inspiration for those seeking to maintain individuality while thriving in a diverse and harmonious community.