Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels
Phuket Old Town, Phuket, Thailand - April 2016
The Jui Tui Shrine may not be that well know to tourists who visit Phuket. Built more than a 100 years ago in 1911, it was originally located at Soi Romanee in Phuket Old Town and was relocated here after a fire many years ago. To me it is also one of the more recognisable Chinese temples in Thailand. Sitting elevated above road level, with its distinct bright entrance archway and an adjacent intricate red tower, it is easily distinguishable; and is an interesting place in Phuket to visit. Jui in Chinese means "water" and Tui means "white mortar"; in the past a white canal ran in front of the old shrine.
THE ENTRANCE
The main entrance archway, with green end hip ornaments contrasting against the red tiles and eaves, give a peep into the main pavilion with its slightly curve red ceiling joists Both structure are not overly elaborate and their Spartan architecture hints of some Japanese architectural influence.
A look of the double-tiered main entrance archway from the inside. Two golden dragons sits facing an iconic sun on the upper ridge. A total of sixteen jade green ornaments sits on the roof hips. Two deities, one on each side, stand guarding this entrance.
A close look at the jade green ornaments, They are stylized leaves, curling inwards. At the intermediate hip ends are small statues of deities.
A look at the elaborately designed entrance tower. Entrance towers are seldom seen in Chinese temples. This is actually a fire-cracker house used to light fire-crackers in during celebrations.
A front view shows the placement of this tower at a very distinct position. It was added recently in 2011.
The Firecracker Tower has a large red square body with a double tiered roof. Intricate gold carvings lined the surface bordered by dark green trimmings. Four dragon columns sit at the corners, with the golden dragons curling round the red columns with bright blue waves.
A bottom up view of the Firecracker Tower shows the intricate workmanship that has been put into it.
THE MAIN TEMPLE PAVILION
The main temple has a typical layout with a smaller roofed entranceway in front of the prayer halls. to it's left is a large hall for worshippers to congregate.
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| The hall has red column headers that looks similar to those of Japanese temples. |
This shrine hold an annual vegetarian festival in which many locals participate, and the large hall comes in useful as the temple does get rather crowded during the vegetarian festival and other ceremonies.
Colourful flags precede the entrance to the main temple hall.
The two roofs of the main hall has ridges that curl skywards and end with a sharp jagged edge. It's simplistic yet elegant.
The entrance roof to the main hall - the ridge wall is made more intricate by green bamboo mini columns.
The entrance foyer to the main hall, a dragon joss-burner urn sits right in front.
The entrance foyer roof.
Joss-burner at the entrance foyer. The fierce dragons will scare off any evil spirits.
Horizontal banners hang form the ceiling of the entrance; these are uniquely white in colour with colourful motifs dragons, deities, etc. embroided on.
The main prayer hall has three altars; a main one at the centre and two secondary ones on the sides. Jui Tui Shrine is dedicated to Tean Hu Huan Soy, the god associated with performing artists and dancers (The Chinese Opera regards him as their patron). His statue take up the central position of the main altar.
Behind the main altar table is an altar for other important deities and standing slightly elevated is Kuan Im.
A closer look of Kuan Im, this one has her carrying a child. Childless couple would come prayer to her and hope for a child soon.
ANCILLARY BUILDINGS
Within the compound there are a couple of ancillary smaller buildings, one is a shrine and the other a hell-notes burner.
The burner building has unique weave/lattice patterns on it's walls, the design is graphical one that is seldom seen in Chinese temples. Another uniqueness are the "lion" heads that adorn the gable ends of the roof.
A closer look of the roof.
A couple of green dragons adorn the gable wall of another building.
STATUES
Many statues are placed within the temple, shown here are statues within the compound:
Two stone lion guardians guard the entrance to the main temple hall.
A close look at one of the stone lion guardians.
A rich royal blue porcelain lion, this is a small one that sits at the entrance of the small shrine at the right of the main temple.
The following are the four deities that stand vigilantly guarding the entrance to the main prayer hall (There are two other guards at the entrance arch, but against the morning sunlight, my photos of them did not come out well):
JUI TUI SHRINE
Soi Phuthorn, Ranong Road, Phuket Old Town, Phuket, Thailand.
Hours: 8:00am to 8:30pm
GPS: 7.88324, 98.38338
(Click here for Google Street View)
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