Touch a phallic symbol in Kedai Goh Shong Fatt in KL Chinatown to ask for a wish to be granted!

While strolling in KL Chinatown, I stumble up a store with a tiny signboard that says Kedai Goh Shong Fatt. Displayed inside are three wooden phallic symbols. When I whip out my camera to snap a photo, the store-owner (pix below) steps forward from behind his counter.

"This is not just a piece of carved wood," he says in fluent English, taking a few steps towards me. "It's worshipped by a certain tribe of the Orang Asli who are animists. They believe a spirit resides inside the carving." He points to a porcelain container on the floor. "I light joss coils every day to pray to the spirit. Come, you can touch the black wooden phallus to make a wish. That's what it's for."

"Need to pay?"

"No. If your wish is fulfilled, please buy a garland of flowers as a token of appreciation."

For the sake of fun, I grab the rounded tip of the structure with both hands and utter silently, "I wish I can find a literary agent in UK to represent me!"

"Are you Mr Goh?"

"Yes. Good luck in whatever you wished for!"

Address:
Jalan Sultan
(Opposite Wildlife Zoological Supplies)
Kuala Lumpur

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Sakura advises barren women to pray at Bangkok’s Mae Nak shrine and Chao Mae Tumbit shrine

My mobile beeps and the caller ID shows Sakura Siew.

“What’s up, Miss Siew?” I say into the microphone.

“I just came back from Bangkok. Got some souvenirs for you. Can I come tomorrow and pass them to you?”

“Why, sure. Thank you. Was it a vacation?”

“I took my auntie to pray at two temples. They’re popular with barren women wishing to conceive.”

“Interesting! Tell me more about them.”

“First, there’s the Mae Nak Shrine. Legend says that a woman named Nak was married to a man called Maak during the reign of King Mongkut. In 1885, Maak was conscripted to fight against the Shan State in the north. During her husband’s absence, Nak died during childbirth. When Maak returned, he saw his wife and a baby at home. Unknown to him, they were both ghosts. For several months, they lived a normal life. One day, Nak dropped a piece of lime while preparing food. The lime fell through a slit in the wooden floor to the ground. She elongated her hand through the slit to the ground to retrieve it. Maak saw this incident from the bedroom, realized that his wife was a ghost and fled from the house. He hid in a temple. Nak was furious and starting hurling stones at villagers. Finally, a monk captured her and imprisoned her in an earthenware jug. The jug was thrown into the Phra Kanong canal. Two fisherman unwittingly released her when they found the jug and opened it. By now, Maak was living with another woman and Nak returned home and strangled her to death. To appease the fierce spirit, another monk built a shrine at Wat Mahabut for her to stay.”

“Sheesh! That’s scary. Address of the temple?”

“Soi 77, Off Sukhumvit Road.” A pause. “Not only barren women pray to her. Mae Nak also gives luck to lottery punters. But pregnant women are advised not to come, in case the spirit decides to do some mischief with the fetus.”

“What’s the second shrine?”

“The Chao Mae Tumbit shrine. This fertility shrine is dedicated to the goddess Chao Mae Tumbit who is believed to reside in the banyan tree there. There are hundreds of wooden and stone phalluses scattered around the shrine. Big and small.” A giggle. “Seems that the goddess likes offerings of phallic objects.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “Really? Weren’t you embarrassed?”

“No, there were many female tourists there. The shrine is located in the compound of the Swissotel Nai Lert Park Bangkok on Wireless Road.”

“Thanks, I’ll put them in my blog.”

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Tua Pek Kong Temple in Ipoh's Kampung Bercham fairly accurate in lottery-number predictions

(Pixs copyright Ewe Paik Leong)

The Tua Pek Kong Temple in Ipoh's Kampung Bercham is quite famous for dispensing lottery number predictions. The medium, a Chinese in his early forties, will go into a trance and write out the predicted numbers on a piece of paper. He will advise you whether to bet on one draw or two draws or even three draws. Some first-time clients are skeptical as the medium does not close his eyes while in a trance. Punters who have won usually show their gratitude by donating a bottle of lamp oil. Among them have been several non-Chinese as well.

Getting there: From the city centre, travel along Jalan Kuala Kangsar. When you are approaching the Perak Cave Temple on the right, keep to the left and slow down. Immediately after a Caltex station turn left at the traffic light. Fifty metres ahead is the humble-looking temple.

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Mao Shan's brother reincarnated as Mao Zedong?

Mention Mao Shan and thoughts of powerful black magic come to mind, no thanks to Hong Kong movies depicting wizards of this sect of Taoism performing anything from good to evil for a lucrative fee.

Mao Shan actually is a term used loosely to refer to three things: a sect of Taoism founded in the 3rd century B.C.; the mountain Mao Shan (see pixs) located in Jintan County in Jiangsu Province in North China, which is regarded as the Holy Land of Taoism; and the founder of the sect whose full name is Mao San Zu Shi, who had two other younger brothers. Among Chinese Malaysians he is referred to as Mao San Sze Kung (Cantonese) or Mao San Su Kong ( Hokkien). In statues, he is depicted with a red face and a beard.

According to legend, Mao Shan Sze Kung and his two brothers were well-versed in herbal cures, exorcism, incantations, breathing exercises and dispensing of talismans for a variety of purposes. They practised their arts from Juqu Mountain during the 3rd century B.C. The commoners benefitted greatly from their knowledge, and the mountain was renamed Mao Shan in their honour. After their deaths, other Taoist masters who had learned the arts from the founder continued to practise there. The Mao Shan sect of Taoism reached its pinnacle during the Soong Dynasty (960-1279).

Once, I attended a mediumship session at a Mao Shan temple in Teluk Intan in the early months of 1976. Speaking through a medium, the deity made a passing remark: "Mao Zedong is the reincarnation of  my younger brother. He'll be coming back to join us soon." A few months later, on September 9, 1976, I was taken aback to read news that Mao Zedong died. Coincidence?

In Malaysia, the Mao Shan Sze Kung deity is not worshipped in many homes because of its reputed link with sorcery. However, this is an erroneous perception - it is the "master" (sifu) or medium who abuses his knowledge by casting harmful spells who is evil rather than the deity or the practices of the sect. Anyway, if you fall sick for no reason, and suspect a charm or spell has been put on you, your best bet is to consult a Mao Shan practitioner.

My recommendation is Mr Tan Kui Ling, a Teluk Intan-based, second-generation Mao Shan medium (HP. No. 016-5448727).  You can tell him -- his nickname is Tai Kow (Big Dog)-- that you got his number from me.  Getting to his humble temple in the former Jalan Incinerator is tricky but the villagers can give you directions. Sorry, he will not cast any evil spells for you, but you can try your luck by asking for three and four-digit lottery numbers. The amount of payment for your consultation is up to you.

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