Thailand Travel | Chinese Temples Next to the MRT Station - Bangkok's Wat Mangkon Kamalawat

Bangkok's Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Qiongzhou Guild Hall) ศาลเจ้าเจียวเองเบี้ยว (ศาลเจ้าบางรัก) While taking the MRT in Bangkok, I stumbled upon this temple with its Chinese-style roof that was stunning at first glance. After a quick research, it turns out to be quite special. The largest Hainanese association in Thailand, it enshrines the 'Hainan 108 Righteous Martyrs' and 'Shuiwei Holy Mother'. The architecture has been renovated in the Teochew style, and only the amplitude of the gable retains a bit of the Hainanese flavor. The 'Hainan 108 Righteous Martyrs' are said to be 108 Hainanese merchants who were wrongfully killed in Nanyang during the first year of the Qing Xianfeng era. They were later vindicated as 'righteous martyrs' and became the protective deities of seafarers. The 'Shuiwei Holy Mother', officially known as 'Southern Heavenly Lightning Responsive Fire Thunder Shuiwei Holy Mother', was a Ming dynasty figure who, after showing many miracles, was worshipped by local fishermen and became a local deity for the Hainanese people. Her temples are scattered throughout Hainan Island and various countries in Nanyang. In Thailand alone, there is a Hainanese association - Shuiwei Holy Mother Temple in each of the 77 provinces. 🪭Address: PG97+MM8, Charoen Krung 50 Alley, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand 🚇Transport: North side of Bangkok BTS 'Saphan Taksin' station.