Guan Di Temple is in Kuala Lumpur city centre on the same road (nearly opposite) the famous Sri Mahamariamman Temple. Guan Di Temple is a well known and well visited Taoist temple dedicated to a ancient Chinese General Guan Di (also known as Guan Yu) who features heavily in Chinese literature and is sometimes, perhaps incorrectly, described as the ‘Taoist God of War’.
Guan Di Temple in Kuala LumpurGuan Di Temple is one of the more important Chinese temples in Malaysia and the site draws large numbers of Chinese and Malaysian visitors who combine belief in Taoism with other beliefs such as Buddhism or Confucianism, some of whom beliefs that the artefacts within the temple can impart special powers or simply good luck to those who visit the temple.
About Guan Di Temple
The Guan Di temple was constructed in 1888 with donations from the large and prosperous Chinese community in Kuala Lumpur. Many places in China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan and pretty much anywhere with a large resident Chinese community, have a temple dedicated to Guan Di who is considered an indigenous Chinese deity in both Chinese Buddhism and Taoism. Guan Di was general fighting for the warlord Liu Bei who became the first Emperor of one of the Three Kingdom which later unified to become China. Guan Di died in 220 AD and, whilst his birth date is unknown, highly romanticised accounts of his military exploits has been represented in Chinese literature since the time of his death, and in countless films including the recent epic blockbusters Red Cliff and Three Kingdoms. Most people of Chinese heritage will know who Guan Di was in the same way people of Anglo-Saxon heritage know of King Arthur or Robin Hood.
Altar in Guan Di TempleThe special thing about Guan Di Temple in Kuala Lumpur which marks it apart from the many other Guan Di temples around the world are its replica ‘guan dao’ spear and ‘guan jie’ sword into which some believe Guan Di have imparted mystical powers which the faithful can benefit from by touching or lifting the replica weapons.
The guan dao spear and guan jie sword for which the temple is famousThe spear and sword are normally kept on the central altar of the temple with ‘do not touch’ sign on them. On special occasions the weapon are moved to position where visitors can touch them and in particular the replica spear which weighs 59 kg and gives good luck and protection to anyone who lifts it three times.
Guan Di Temple is a popular place of worshipGuan Di Temple is a place of worship for people of Chinese heritage. For the most of the year the people who go to worship are older people visiting to pay respects to ancestors or pray for assistance and protection for the living. During major Chinese festivals, particularly at Chinese New Year, when visitors are permitted to touch the replica weapons the temple attracts a broader range of visitors to worship there or visit simply for the purposes of taking photos to show to the folks back home.
Opening Hours at Guan Di Temple
Guan Di Temple is open:
- Monday to Sunday: 07:00 – 19:00
- Chinese New Year: The opening hours can change daily around the New Year period.
Hotels near the Guan Di Temple
The three closest hotels to the Guan Di Temple are:
Location of Guan Di Temple
- Guan Di Temple is located at 168, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.