Building Structure

From floor to roof, the structure of the temple can be divided into lower, middle and upper sections. A base plinth of stonework constitutes the lower section. The pillars carry the weight of the roof via a truss system, forming the middle section. The upper section comprises the truss system of wooden brackets which supports the cross beams and the weight of the roof.

Exposed structural elements allow air to circulate in halls filled with smoke from joss sticks. The painted beams are treated as part of the temple ornamentation, with red extensively used to symbolise the sun and the male Yang principle. Red also suggests joy, prosperity and festivity. Not a single nail was used in the wooden construction of the main shrine hall – a testimony to the master builder’s skill in carpentry.