Join us in this immersive heritage tour at Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop, a 6th-generation family business that has hand-crafted wooden statues of Taoist and Buddhist deities since 1840. 

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In our little workshop located in a conservation shophouse at the edge of Chinatown, you will find hundreds of statues, depicting ferocious warlords, mischievous child warriors, graceful maidens, and more.

 

But look more closely, and you will also find an entourage of fantastic beasts: Tigers, serpents, parrots, tortoises, monkeys, horses, dragons, phoenixes and other fantastic beasts of Chinese cosmology.

 

In this unique and immersive experience, we will meet these four-legged, scaled, feathered, clawed, and fire-breathing beings of the celestial realm, and discover their ancient origin stories.

 

We will meet the iconic Tiger God, heroic animals from Chinese literature such as the Red Hare and the Monkey God, and animal stories from forgotten ancient text such as the Precious Scroll of the Parrot, which tells the story of Guan Yin's little parrot.

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It will reconnect us to the primal awe our ancestors felt for the natural world, which they depended on and feared.

 

It is a journey into discovering what humans saw in animals, and what that reveals about ourselves.

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Please note:

* Tour is conducted in English.

* Minimum age of 7.

* Group size is capped at 10 pax. 

* The tour is indoors, and will take place rain or shine.

* Due to limited slots, bookings are non-refundable.* The tour will be conducted by docents who are friends of the Ng family.
* There will be no hands-on activities but guests can observe craftsmen at work.
* No prior knowledge of Taoism or Buddhism is required.
* Photos of the workshop may be taken and used for publicity purposes.

* Activities subject to minor changes.