Editing Thian Hock Keng Temple (section)

=== A Temple Born from the Sea ===
The origins of Thian Hock Keng date back to the '''1820s''', when Chinese settlers from Fujian (Hokkien) province began arriving in Singapore.

In those days, Telok Ayer was a coastal road — the sea reached right up to where the temple now stands. Sailors and merchants would come ashore and offer prayers to '''Ma Zu Po (Mazu)''', the '''Goddess of the Sea''', believed to protect seafarers and ensure safe journeys.

By '''1842''', the growing Chinese community pooled their resources to construct a permanent temple — a grand gesture of devotion and unity. It became not only a house of worship but also a community center for new arrivals, helping them find comfort and connection in a foreign land.
----