Multicultural Fusion - Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic!

The buddha tooth relic temple is a monastery dedicated entirely to one individual relic found, which holds immense importance to all monks as it symbolizes their leader Buddha. This relic is a tooth, believed to have belonged to the legendary teacher and monk, Siddhartha Gautama. It is a sacred site for worship, and a hub for those willing to learn more about Buddhism, as you tour the entire structure and learn about the variety and intricacies of the ancient culture.  

The tooth itself is stored in a large “stupa”, or a small dome, which is made out of about four thousand kilograms of solid gold! This shields the tooth from visitors' eyes, and the stupa resides in a large room protected by reinforced glass. Discovered in 1980 in Myanmar, this relic was brought to Singapore in 2002, where it was immediately enshrined in the temple. While the tooth is not visible, the importance of the relic is immediately appreciated by any visitor and gives the visitor a much deeper sense of understanding of the Buddhist culture along with other attractions in the temple.  

The temple itself is made of intricate Chinese woodwork and carvings, along with various statues of mythical beings which constantly “guard” the monastery from threats. Along with the tooth relic itself, the museum houses more insights into the Buddhist culture, out of which the most notable is the Buddha Museum on the second floor of the temple. This secondary museum displays further Buddha idols and artefacts, along with historic scripts which convey his life teachings. The roof garden complements the Altar of 10,000 Buddhas, where visitors can take a few moments in peace to examine the various statues of little Buddhas which represent the Buddhas of the past, present and future. It is also a way to thank those who supported the temple, as each of the Buddhas has a nameplate next to them, with the name of every individual who donated to the temple being covered in the display.  

In the lower floors, the Tang Dynasty Buddhist Cultural Museum explores the various connections of the Chinese culture and the Buddhist culture, helping visitors reflect on the cultural diversity in Singapore and learn more about other cultures. This temple also hands out free copies of Buddha’s teachings in simpler terms for those who are interested in learning more about this culture, and the cafeteria not only serves pure vegetarian food, but also practices mindful eating, a deep rooted and important Buddhist tradition. The cafeteria encourages slow, thoughtful eating, and a space for reflection for all. It also provides accessible and affordable food to anyone, further encouraging people to learn more about the Buddhist culture. This is a truly remarkable place to visit for anybody interested in relics, the Buddhist, the Tang or the Singaporean culture.