Discover with Timothy
21st Anniversary as Content Creator

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple 仙四師爺宮, Kuala Lumpur

Sin Sze Si Ya TempleSin Sze Si Ya Temple (8 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya Temple (GPS: 3.14565, 101.69635), (Chinese: 仙四師爺宮; Pinyin: Xiān Sì Shīyé Gōng) is the oldest and most important Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur. Like many of the very old Chinese temples of the major cities of Malaysia - the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi comes to mind - Sin Sze Si Ya has remained steadfast in its location while the rest of town evolved and developed, so much so that it does not command a street frontage. The main access to Sin Sze Si Ya is via a passage off Jalan Tun HS Lee, between Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Lebuh Pudu. The temple proper does not face any of the main roads. There are two entrances. The main entrance, with an ornate archway, opens to Jalan Tun HS Lee, while a smaller entrance opens to Lorong Bandar 19, a city alley.

The history of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple goes back to the very founding of Kuala Lumpur. The temple was founded by Kapitan Cina Yap Ah Loy, the third kapitan Cina of Kuala Lumpur who was generally credited as the one who established the city. According to the plaque at the temple, it was founded in 1864. He left such an indellible imprint on the temple that it is often called the Yap Ah Loy Temple.

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple is dedicated to the worship of two deified personalities: Kapitan Shin Kap alias Kapitan Sheng Meng Li of Sungai Ujong (now known as Seremban) and Yap Ah Loy's chief commander, Sze Si Ya.

Yap Ah Loy had revered Sheng Meng Li as his mentor. Sheng was killed in one of the many clashes over tin mining rights. After his death, Sheng continued to appear to Yap in his dreams, where he promised to grant protection to Yap in his subsequent battles. True enough, Yap Ah Loy won many warfare when he brought with him the Sheng Ming Li spirit tablet.

The festive days at Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, when it is most crowded with devotees, are on the Eve and First Day of Chinese New Year. Many devotees come to this temple to usher in the new year, and to pray for good luck. There is a belief among devotees that if they crawl under the altar table of the Sin Sze Si Ya deities, their back luck of the previous year would be cast away.

Another festive day at Sin Sze Si Ya Temple is on Jingzhe Day, which falls on the third of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese calendar. Devotees believe this is the day insects come out of hibernation. During this day, devotees participate in a ceremony called Da Xiao Ren, or villain hitting.

Sze Si Ya, also called Chung Lai, was Yap Ah Loy's chief commander and blood brother in many of his civil warfare. He was instrumental in recapturing territories lost in earlier battles, helping to bring peace to the area that became Kuala Lumpur, and laying the foundation for the settlement to develop as a major city.

Kapitan Sheng Ming Li and Chung Lai were honoured with the construction of the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, where they were worshipped as deified personalities and tutelary deities of the settlement. Before Sheng Ming Li was worshipped in Kuala Lumpur, there was already a shrine built in his honour in Rasah, Seremban. To move the deity to Kuala Lumpur, Yap Ah Loy donated the land in Kuala Lumpur, along with six commercial lots in the vicinity. The Sin Sze Si Ya Temple in Kuala Lumpur opened in 1883.

Yap Ah Loy built the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple after he repeatedly dreamt of Kapitan Shin Kap telling him to go to Kuala Lumpur to prospect for tin. Yap built the first Sin Sze Si Ya Temple in Sungai Ujong in 1864. After he made his fortune in Kuala Lumpur, he relocated the temple to its present site in 1885.

There are two deities at the main altar of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. The one on the right is the deitified form of Kapitan Shin Kap. The effigy on the left is said to represent either Chong Piang. Chong Piang was the right-hand man to Yap Ah Loy. He was said to have been killed in one of the clashes during the civil war that erupted in Kuala Lumpur.

Sin Sze Si Ya TempleDoorway of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleInterior of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleThe intricate decor of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleSin Sze Si Ya Temple prayer hall. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleA shrine or sedan at Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TemplePhotographs of the pioneers of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, along with various figurines of deities, with the statue of Kapitan Yap Ah Loy in the centre. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleView across the prayer hall of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple towards its front door. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleShrine on the left side wing of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleShrine on the right side wing of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleI was a bit surprised to learn that this Indian lady is a caretaker of the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)

How to reach Sin Sze Si Ya Temple

Take the light rail transit Kelana Jaya Line to the Pasar Seni LRT Station. Walk east along Jalan Sultan until you reach Jalan Tun HS Lee. Turn left and walk north along Jalan Tun HS Lee until you reach the temple. Sin Sze Si Ya Temple is open daily from 7:00am to 5:00pm, when the gate closes.

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple is on the map of Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur



Sin Sze Si Ya TempleThe front gate of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)


Sin Sze Si Ya TempleThe back gate of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (6 July, 2016)

Back to Discover Kuala Lumpur; list of Chinese Temples in Kuala Lumpur and Chinese Temples in Malaysia

 New Properties in Kuala Lumpur

Looking for new properties in Kuala Lumpur? Get the e-brochures right here without having to visit or contact individual developers.

  1. 8th & Stellar E-Brochure, Bangsar
  2. 111 Menerung E-Brochure, Bangsar
  3. Alfa Bangsar E-Brochure, Bangsar
  4. Aria Luxury Residences E-Brochure, Cheras
  5. Arte Cheras E-Brochure, Cheras
  6. Arte Solaris E-Brochure, Mont Kiara
  7. Aster Hill E-Brochure, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling
  8. Bukit Bintang City Centre E-Brochure, Pudu
  9. Ceylonz Suites E-Brochure, Bukit Kewangan
  10. Core Residence at TRX E-Brochure, Tun Razak Exchange
  11. DC Residensi E-Brochure, Pusat Bandar Damansara
  12. Desa Aman Hill E-Brochure, Cheras
  13. D'Ivo Residences E-Brochure, Old Klang Road
  14. D'Velada Residences E-Brochure, Bukit Jalil
  15. Eaton Residences E-Brochure, KLCC
  16. Est 8 E-Brochure, Seputeh
  17. Expressionz Professional Suites E-Brochure, Jalan Tun Razak
  18. GenKL E-Brochure, Taman Lian Hoe
  19. Hampton Damansara E-Brochure, Country Heights Damansara
  20. Hugoz Suites E-Brochure, Kampung Baru
  21. Kensho Residence E-Brochure, Taman Danau Desa
  22. KL48 Residences E-Brochure, Chan Sow Lin
  23. Laurel Residence E-Brochure, Chan Sow Lin
  24. M Adora E-Brochure, Wangsa Melawati
  25. M Arisa E-Brochure, Sentul
  26. M Nova E-Brochure, Taman Sri Murni
  27. M Oscar E-Brochure, Salak South
  28. Majestic Residence E-Brochure, Chow Kit
  29. Millerz Retail E-Brochure, Old Klang Road
  30. Millerz Square E-Brochure, Old Klang Road
  31. Mossaz Retail E-Brochure, Sungai Penchala
  32. Pavilion Ceylon Hill E-Brochure, Bukit Ceylon
  33. Pavilion Damansara Height E-Brochure, Pusat Bandar Damansara
  34. Southbank 2 Residence E-Brochure, Old Klang Road
  35. Sentral Suites E-Brochure, KL Sentral
  36. Sentul Point Suite Apartments E-Brochure, Sentul
  37. St Regis The Residences E-Brochure, KL Sentral
  38. The Atrium E-Brochure, Taman U Thant
  39. The Conlay E-Brochure, KLCC
  40. The Fiddlewoodz E-Brochure, KL Metropolis
  41. The Goodwood Residence E-Brochure, Bangsar South
  42. The Robertson E-Brochure, Pudu
  43. The Tropika E-Brochure, Bukit Jalil
  44. The Vertical Office Suites E-Brochure, Bangsar South
  45. Tria Seputeh E-Brochure, Seputeh
  46. Verve Suites E-Brochure, Old Klang Road
  47. Verve Suites SOHO E-Brochure, Mont Kiara
  48. United Point Residence E-Brochure, Segambut

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Discover with Timothy YouTube Channel

 Discover with Timothy Food Channel

 Learn Penang Hokkien YouTube Channel

SojiMart Videos

 Map of Roads in Kuala Lumpur

 Map of Expressways in the Klang Valley

Latest from Discover with Timothy: Gurney Bay - what to see and do there

About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.