Melaka Sam Tiong Keng Temple celebrates annual Three Lords Festival

Hundreds of devotees gathered at the historic Sam Tiong Keng Temple along Jalan Semabok on Saturday evening for its annual celebrations honouring the Three Loyal Lords of the Song Dynasty.

The festival dedicated to Da Song San Zhong Wang featured traditional Taoist rituals, Chinese opera and community outreach, culminating in a birthday observance on Sunday.

The celebrations began on Friday morning with a charitable initiative in which the temple committee distributed more than 2,000 bags of Ping An Mi, or blessed rice, to local residents and welfare homes, regardless of background. The initiative aimed to share blessings of peace, health and goodwill with the wider community.

Religious rituals and cultural heritage

On Saturday evening, the temple grounds hosted traditional Chinese opera performances known as chou shen xi, or thanksgiving opera, to honour the deities. Families, senior citizens and children gathered to watch the performances, while temple committee members, youth volunteers and spirit mediums helped coordinate the event.

One of the main attractions was the Guo Ping An Qiao, or Crossing the Peace Bridge ceremony. Guided by spirit mediums known as tangki, devotees crossed the bridge in a symbolic ritual representing the departure of misfortune and the seeking of peace and safety.

Participants also received red vermilion marks, known as gai yin, on their shirts as a traditional symbol of protection and good fortune.

Other ceremonial practices included the kou zhen cheek-piercing ritual, performed by mediums using long metal needles. Spirit mediums carrying ling qi, or command flags, also performed ceremonial movements associated with the Wu Ying Shen Jiang, or Five Camps of Heavenly Generals, amid rows of golden guardian statues.

Inside the prayer hall, displays of longevity peaches and blessed rice were arranged before the altars as offerings.

Charity and community unity

The Three Loyal Lords are associated with historical figures from the Southern Song Dynasty, including Wen Tianxiang and Lu Xiufu, who are remembered for their loyalty and commitment to their principles during the dynasty’s final years.

Their legacy of integrity, courage and responsibility continues to hold significance for devotees. Through annual prayers and rituals, the temple also seeks to preserve these traditions and pass their cultural significance on to younger generations.

The distribution of blessed rice formed part of the festival’s community outreach, extending its activities beyond religious observance to residents and welfare homes.

The celebrations concluded on Sunday with the formal birthday observance, known as Zuo Zhu Da Song San Zhong Wang Qian Qiu.

Representatives from sister temples across the country, community leaders and members of the public gathered to pay their respects and offer incense to the deities.

The annual event brought together religious observance, traditional performances and charitable activities, reflecting the role of local temples in maintaining cultural practices and fostering community ties in Melaka.