The Last Handmade Taoist Statue Shop in Singapore

At the Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop in Singapore, a family has been making Taoist effigies by hand for over 100 years. These creations are hand-carved painted statues of the various gods that Taoists worship. The Ng family is the last of their kind in Singapore keeping this tradition alive through a combination of public workshops and tours.
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Written, Produced, and Edited by: Jade Han
Narrated by: Dolly Li
Shot by: Wan Zhong Hao
Mastered by: Joel Roche
Music: Audio Network
#taoist #taoism #craftsmanship

[@xavierpaololedesmamandreza]

I like this video too it’s nice to see how the Taoist Community is flourishing in Singapore I really wish it could be the same here in the Philippines. A Taoist like myself couldn’t worship as openly as we want to. 🙏

[@Iiquidme]

Why though?

[@Iiquidme]

@Jacky Phantom nope, my great grandparents escape/leave China to Malaysia to escape the civil war, my parents came to Singapore to work and I was born here. So I'm like 100% Chinese, I think. Actually, the misconception of native religion in Philippine, that catholic is an native religion which is not, Spain and America colonized Philippines while bringing in Christianity. I don't know whether the native religions still exist in the Philippines.

[@Iiquidme]

@Jacky Phantom err... I'm Singaporean.

[@micahdunwoody6555]

I empathise. I live in a city in the United States. There are only for other people I know who really get Daoism. Would love to travel to where Daoism is widely practiced.

[@noself7889]

@@micahdunwoody6555I agree, I live in a small town in Colorado. There is a Buddhist Dharma center about 50 miles away but nothing for Taoism. I have practiced both Buddhism and Taoism at home by myself for twenty years. I wish I had a community and a master to transmit the teachings to me. If I had the money I would like to spend a year in a Taoist temple and learn Taoism from a real master. ☯️☸️☯️

[@britainluver431]

I love these videos of the families and the continuation of tradition.

[@littlefish0997]

The details on the sculptures are just astonishing! Wow!

[@ellebillng2333]

I can’t believe I didn’t find you guys before Stephanie! The details in your videos are incredible!

[@littlefish0997]

I’m so glad Stephanie recommended you guys to me. ❤️ I love how ur channel isn’t just about food but so much more!!! From arts to history! Amazing!

[@giorgianab.3964]

You have wide variety of contents! I'm loving this channel!

[@ffadityawahyudi9233]

The new place must visit at Singapore thanks for video

[@draniomeni2]

So beautiful. I am a Taoist myself, so I enjoy this videos.

[@Voltaire8559]

In Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan, anime figurines are already sculpted in place of gods and buddhas, because the amount of worship to those anime characters are already much higher than actual religions get. Not that it is bad, but it is a real and interesting modern phenomenon for traditional crafts adapting and diversifying to modern day market demands.

[@nilabee662]

The effort in making these 💚

[@leahm.8515]

Your videos are so unique I love it💗/here from StephanieSoo. Either way here from her or not your still awesome

[@kylin3197]

I'll definitely have to buy some when I'm in Singapore

[@britneymeyers2955]

Very interesting and beautiful 💘

[@ShadowLynx516]

Art!

[@leanne484]

great video and editing :) here from stephsoo

[@noself7889]

So where can we but these wonderful pieces of art?

[@perriwinkle5273]

I want to learn too😍✨✨

[@AndresWalsh]

The old lady looks like a taoist spirit. So her work has had an effect. She may become an immortal.

[@siamnu2716]

Wow

[@IreneBTV]

That's creative indeed...the talent pass through generations...

[@michaelkors6001]

Where can i find this store in singapore?

[@Goldthread]

It's at 35 Neil Rd :)

[@Mmaulin12]

If I send them a pic of goddess Kamakshi, would they be able to make a statue? Or is it just Taoist deities?

[@hermescarraro3393]

They Say in the video that they don't see any problem in making gods of other faiths

[@lotus108able]

Awesome..Anyone can share the location? Thanks 🙏

[@heyhey8626]

35 Neil Rd

[@pqx8746]

Where is The place

[@Goldthread]

It's Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop at Neil Road. :)

[@quanglam1827]

Statues of all gods in any religion are made by people and their hands as well as those of virgin Mary or Jesus and we all worship and pray to our own culture and believes no one god is greater or do better goods than other ones. All religions teach to do good, it is up to the individual to carry and spread the believe.

[@roninaikido5179]

What kind of paint and brush you use in the STATUE. If METAL or resin or perhaps bronze like putting GILT gilt ? Thank you VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO RESPOND to my QUESTIONS. BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. Can I LEARN from you how to paint my STATUES or put some Glitters like DIFFERENT TYPES OF STONE'S ? AGAIN Thank you VERY MUCH. By the way what is the Name OF your Shop ? Do you HAVE E- MAIL or SIGHT so I can see some OF your PROJECT'S or PRODUCTS. Like for Example if I'm gonna buy PRODUCTS to or STATUE to your Shop EVEN thou I'm in the U.S.A. CALIFORNIA can you Ship it . ? And can I REQUEST What COLOR that I want in my Statue like BUDDHA AMITAYUS, I WANT HIS ROBE TO RED IT'S THAT OK OR PERHAPS I SEND YOU A PICTURE THAT YOU CAN COPY IT . AGAIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[@kylin3197]

30 different eyebrow styles!!

[@qualitylife8195]

❤️☯️☸️

[@shadowchicken8629]

i wont be surprise if next time they use 3d printer for this

[@RubelliteIsHere]

I don’t know much about 3D painting so don’t mind me asking, will the plastic break of easily? And is it capable to tolerate heat from incense+the humidity in sg too? Ngl, it’ll be terrifying to see the faces of the statue deforming

[@Eddies_Bra-att-ha-grejer]

@@RubelliteIsHere It would depend on the plastic being used. There are filaments that contain wood fiber as well, and the statues would still obviously be painted afterwards. 3D printing would only replace the carving of the wood.

[@WhatName6]

They only use 3d printing for contemporary products. Some Taoist sects believe that it's best to use wood because it has the most spiritual energy, it's really hard to bless a plastic statue because plastic is completely manmade and doesn't have spiritual properties

[@Ender3Me]

*The old woman looked like the statues of the angry diety. Lmao*

[@groovyy6759]

So this is like Confucianism and Daoism right?

[@Iiquidme]

It's a Chinese religion, it's a fusion of 3 philosophy, Buddhism , Confucianism and taoism. (and a little bit of ancient beliefs way back). It's similar to Hinduism, have reincarnation cycle and all that stuff.

[@Iiquidme]

@Jacky Phantom I don't think so, since I'm Chinese, Chinese folk religion is quite old, have their own Polytheistic faith already. Just like most countries at that time. Is just that the monotheistic religion (Abraham) spread throughout the world while destroy the indigenous faith there.

[@Texasmade74]

@Jacky Phantom nope Daoism mixed with Chinese folk religions early on which are inherently polytheistic

[@Texasmade74]

@@Iiquidme no a whole lot of Chinese folk religions(ancient religion) went into Daoism

[@Texasmade74]

@Jacky Phantom not really because Chinese folk religions are so numerous and aren't uniform or based on texts like the Vedas or the Upanishads

[@rbrsridhar1321]

I never used apple product... I really want to see how it works.. I hope i will win I'm the winner ..........😵😵

[@johneli495]

I don't read anything about gods in Tao Te Ching. This must be a product of later development or syncretism with other beliefs

[@WhatName6]

probably syncretism with other beliefs, im buddhist and the nearest temple has a mixture of taoist and buddhist deities

[@TrinkBruder]

What do you think of Dudeism?

[@Texasmade74]

Get lost bitch

[@uzbek5545]

Hey I can break ur Gods with one strike so will that make me ur god?

[@theowesaye9001]

Damn how you gonna do them like that 😂😂😂

[@Iiquidme]

Bruh they are Statue, break doesn't make u god, becoming rich like Bill Gates is god.

[@Texasmade74]

Well break one of the statues to find out...but instead of becoming a God you'll probably get a world class ass whooping lmfao.Either way doing that doesn't make their Gods fake.

[@thusihaveheard7514]

You can break the statues but you can't break god or gods

[@hermescarraro3393]

The fuck does that even mean? You seriously think that Just by breaking a statue you will also kill the faith of a devotee? If that Is so, It says more about you than them. You must be very materialistic, with a very weak Faith. It's like saying that if I bomb the Kaaba, then Islam Is dead. It's dumb.

[@josephessilfie7777]

Isn't it Foolishness?. you make a god with your hands and fall down and worship it. Something that can't see, hear or walk, do you trust such a thing to help you? Why don't you put your Trust in the Lord God who created all things. Please Google amazingfacts.org and learn something better than that which can give you ETERNAL LIFE.

[@lunarandamako3710]

They are just creating copies of the gods chinese believe and worship it.

[@Iiquidme]

Lol, isn't the Jesus cross statue HANDMADE? don't tell me Jesus made it himself and drop it from the sky lol

[@looneytuneeeeeeee123]

just let people practice whatever they believe in. there's thousand of religion out there... you can't go around telling people who is true god?

[@Iiquidme]

@@looneytuneeeeeeee123 Christians is like that one, like Islam, always preach about true god

[@chenjinda00]

Just let people practice whatever they want bru