Taoism in Singapore

Larger proportion of older residents adhere to Taoism, as compared with those in younger age groups.

The majority of these settlers worshipped Mazu (媽祖) to guide them safely in on their arrival in a new foreign country.

Taoist practice later flourished as an increasing number of Chinese merchants and coolies settled in Singapore.

Many Taoist followers worship bodhisattva as well since Taoism and Buddhism have traditionally enjoyed a peaceful coexistence, thereby leading to obscured delineation between the two religions.

However, any attempt to deny Taoism its right as a religion of its own is dubious owing to the substantially growing and unreported numbers of youngsters embracing the faith.

Taoist martial arts, notably tai chi, is commonly practiced in community centres.

One of the oldest Taoist temples is the Thian Hock Keng, built by the late wealthy philanthropist Kapitan Tan Tock Seng, which also serves as the origin of the Hokkien Huay Kuan.

With the advent of modernism, and perchance owing to the decline of traditional Chinese values, filial piety and thus such practices are slowly fading.

They are followed on by the bank notes, kai chin, clothes and taels, and the yi bou is gathered up, and burnt with a candle before throwing it into the urn.

In some cases, the lantern wordings are written in red which means that the deceased lived a long life at least 80 years of age.

For the Cantonese and Hakkas, the priest would conduct the "Breaking of Hell" ritual as it was believed that the deceased would drop into Hell when he dies based on his past sins and rituals are conducted to save the deceased and lead the dead souls out of the netherworld and enter into reincarnation.