A Chinese sage named Tai Hong Kong was born in 797. A brilliant young man, he earned his imperial diploma, serving as a civil servant and a Buddhist monk. He was well known for his social welfare projects, which benefited the people of ancient China.
There's an interesting shrine dedicated to Tai Hong Kong in Bangkok, which is operated by the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, and I had the opportunity to visit a few weeks back.
https://michaeldesrosiers.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-second-walk-temples-shrines-and.html
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| The Tai Hong Kong Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand |
The Poh Teck Tung Foundation (also known by its Chinese name, Huáqiáo Bàodé Shàntáng) is one of many Thai-Chinese charity foundations located throughout Bangkok. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes enlightenment through works, and incorporate the belief in bodhisattvas - enlightened beings who remain on earth in order to help others.
This particular foundation provides emergency assistance and disaster relief, and collects and properly handles unclaimed bodies following road accidents. Their iconic ambulance-like vans are an unfortunately common sight on Thai roads.
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| inside the shrine |
The shrine itself is a fairly typical Thai-Chinese shrine with quite a long history. The main shrine image of Tai Hong Kong came to Thailand from China in 1896, and the current shrine building was constructed in 1910, with the foundation being established by 13 wealthy Thai-Chinese philanthropists in 1937.
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| this counter processes donations to the foundation |
When visiting the shrine, you are welcome to make a donation - as small or as large as you like - which goes directly to funding the foundation's activities and helping those in need. Its activities are similar to another foundation which my wife and I visit from time to time.
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| the shrine to Tai Hong Kong |
Exploring my assigned neighborhood (Chinatown) with my walking tour group has been an amazing way to get a good feel for a neighborhood that still feels quite foreign an inaccessible to me, despite my having spent nearly nine years in Thailand. It's been so good to get out and about to explore this chaotic and somewhat mysterious part of old Bangkok.
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| a Poh Teck Tung ambulance - an unfortunately common sight on the streets of Thailand |
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