The Tiger God Shrine (San Chao Pho Suea)
The Tiger God Shrine (San Chao Pho Suea) is a Taoist shrine. The architectural style is Southern Chinese. According to legend, the shrine honors the spirit of a tiger who once lived in the jungle surrounding this area and the statue housed here is where his bones and spirit are kept.
The Shrine
Apart from the Tiger God the shrine also houses statues of Sein Tein Zang Tee (the god of the north stars), Guan Yu and Matsu (the empress of heaven). The shrine also houses many rare antiques some of which are more than 100 years old. The Tiger God shrine is always busy and usually filled with clouds of incense. During festival times the shrine features music and puppet shows.
The Worshippers
The Tiger God shrine attracts mainly Chinese Thai people and is popular among local Buddhists. People come to pray for prosperity, good fortune, and protection from evil. The shrine is popular with couples who pray for a child and bring offerings of sugar tigers. People usually worship the shrine with 18 joss sticks burned in six pots, one pair of red candles and one garland, and offerings of flowers, cookies, and fruit.
How to Worship at the Tiger God Shrine
To worship the Tiger God, they usually use pork, egg, and sweetened sticky rice. You will also see people casting lots. This is where worshippers shake cans containing numbered wooden sticks until one falls to the floor. The number is then taken to the back of the hall where a corresponding fortune printed on a paper sheet can be found. You can also see wooden blocks being thrown across the floor. Worshippers at the Tiger God Shrine believe that how these blocks fall helps them to make good decisions.
The Tiger God Shrine is an interesting stop if you are visiting Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing which are just around the corner.
Where is the Tiger God Shrine?
Location: 468 Tanao Road
District: Rattanakosin
Opening Hours: 06.00-17.00 daily.
Admission: Free
Rules: No photography in the inner shrine.
How to get there: Bus, Taxi, Tuk-Tuk or walk.
Bus: No. 10, 12, 19, 35, 42 passes the shrine.
Map:
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