Interview #2: Mr. Raymond Wang
Dive into Tian De Temple, Singapore’s most multicultural and multifaith institution
Mr. Raymond Wang, the Chairman of Tian De Temple, has been actively expanding the temple’s initiatives beyond religion. Through collaborations with Pro Bono SG and other volunteer initiatives, Mr. Wang shares how Tian De Temple is navigating the tension between cultural preservation and inclusion in an increasingly diverse society.
About This Interview
Mr. Raymond Wang serves as Chairman of Tian De Temple, a Taoist temple in Singapore. During his tenure, he has worked to bridge the gap between traditional Chinese religious practices and Singapore's multicultural reality. His efforts include organizing interfaith seminars in English, converting cultural festivals into inclusive community events, and opening the temple's volunteer opportunities to people of all faiths.
This conversation explores the challenges faced by traditional temples in modern Singapore, the role of religious institutions in preserving culture, and practical strategies for keeping heritage alive while embracing diversity.
Interview Details
Guest: Mr. Raymond Wang
Interviewers: Christine Oh
Date Recorded: January 17, 2026
Location: Tian De Temple, Singapore
Language: English
Duration: 21:44
Format: Video & Audio Recording
Interview Questions
Below are highlights from our conversation with Mr. Raymond Wang, organized by topic. These excerpts capture his vision for cultural preservation through inclusion. Minor edits have been made for clarity, brevity, and flow.
First of all, thank you so much for your time today; I really appreciate it. Before we start, could you please introduce yourself?
Mr. Wang: Okay. I’m Raymond Wang, the Chairman of Tian De Temple located at Hougang, opposite the Block 309 coffee shop.
Thank you so much. As the Chairman of Tian De Temple, can you please tell us about the historical development of the temple?
Mr. Wang: Initially, Tian De Temple was not located here. Actually, there are four temples together, which we call “corporate members” under Tian De Temple. Originally, there was no Tian De Temple at all; these four temples were spread across different locations in Singapore. However, when they bought this piece of land from the government, the government wanted us to form one united temple. That is why we chose the name Tian De Temple. One of the temples was near Bartley Road, and another was in Hougang. Because the government only wanted to deal with one organization instead of four separate ones for the land purchase, they formed Tian De Temple.
That’s a great story. My next question is: What motivated you to become the Chairman of Tian De Temple?
Mr. Wang: I was actually the Vice Chairman of Suyang (one of the constituent temples). Since Tian De Temple is a united temple, each of the four temples must nominate five members to the committee, making a total of 20 committee members. I was chosen by Suyang to be the General Affairs Officer of Tian De Temple. Later, the Chairman of Tian De Temple passed away, and they wanted me to take over the role. This is how I became the Chairman.
I see. I am also aware that Tian De Temple has an alliance with Pro Bono SG. As the Chairman, why did you choose to partner with them?
Mr. Wang: The idea for Pro Bono SG’s legal services didn’t actually come from the temple initially. The Chairman of the Hougang CCC (Community Club Committee) and a senior lawyer named Richard Siaw—who is an ambassador for Pro Bono SG—visited me. They explained the concept of pro bono services as free services provided to low-income or less-privileged families and individuals. They asked if the temple could accommodate them. It was a government initiative to establish pro bono legal offices within religious organizations, whether they be churches, mosques, temples, or any other kind of organization.
I thought it was a good idea, but the problem was that we had no extra space because all four temples had fully utilized their existing spaces. When I brought the idea to the Central Committee, most of them refused to incorporate the pro bono services. I explained that this was a good deed for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) as a form of charity. I told them that if they didn't agree, I would step down as Chairman because we wouldn't be moving in the same direction. Eventually, they all agreed to my suggestion. Because of the space restrictions, the Hougang CC Chairman suggested we buy two containers to use as the legal service center. Each container cost $10,000, and luckily, two donors came forward to provide the necessary $20,000.
That is a really impactful story. Regarding the Community Law Centre, how has the blending of law and religious service impacted the significance of the temple for Singaporean residents?
Mr. Wang: I learned from Pro Bono SG that their legal services are restricted to Singaporeans and PRs, specifically those from less privileged backgrounds who cannot afford a lawyer. Since I became Chairman of the Kiu Leong Tong (one of the temples) in May 2024, I’ve seen cases where PRs married to Singaporeans face matrimonial problems, and I refer them to Pro Bono SG’s legal services at the temple. We open this service to people from all corners of Singapore. In the first year, we handled about 800 cases, and in the second year, it grew to over 1,000. Our agreement with Pro Bono SG is that we provide the space, but we do not interfere with their independent work.
Regarding the temple itself, what are the typical demographics of the temple-goers, such as their ethnicity and age?
Mr. Wang: Because this is a Taoist temple, most devotees are Chinese. However, you will notice some Indian devotees because one of our corporate member temples also prays to an Indian deity. In Singapore, there is a declining trend because most Taoist believers are senior citizens. We have some young devotees, but not many, because Taoism is not easy to understand, and Taoists don't often propagate their religion through seminars or classes. Usually, people come for big events like the deity’s birthday, Lunar New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, or the Winter Solstice.
What social, cultural, and historical significance does the temple hold for Singaporeans?
Mr. Wang: We celebrate Chinese festivals as part of the culture. As Chairman, I realized the number of devotees is declining, but we must still maintain this culture. I chose to organize a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration together with the Hougang CC. I changed the way we celebrate to be more inclusive. Since the CC includes Malays, Indians, and Eurasians, I suggested we use Halal/Muslim food for the event. It was a creative approach because people usually associate mooncakes only with Chinese food, but I wanted to show that the festival is a Chinese custom that can be celebrated by everyone, regardless of religion. I want Tian De Temple to be integrated into Singaporean society, not just as a place for Taoism, but for Chinese customs.
Singapore is modernizing rapidly. How does Tian De Temple mark a transition between the past (traditional culture) and the future (the rapidly modernizing Singapore)?
Mr. Wang: I believe the temple can integrate into modern society by doing more charity work beyond just prayer. For example, we give grocery bags to the less privileged, which may inspire youngsters to come to the temple for voluntary work. Our committee even includes members who are Catholic; we don't mind as long as they want to contribute. We have to change our mindset to accept people of other religions for volunteer work.
What efforts are needed to preserve historical sites like Tian De Temple in Singapore?
Mr. Wang: We must create events that fulfill the requirements of modern society, or the religion will die off. We promote traditional Chinese food that you can't easily find in the market anymore. The temple also conducts interfaith seminars in English, inviting Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians. I think we are one of the first Chinese temples to conduct interfaith seminars in English in order to change the concept that we are "old-minded." Last year, we even held a satay party and a durian party to attract younger people. We also held an event for Wenchang (the deity of education), which attracted many students. This is how we’ve improved the temple’s image and shown that we are not outdated [despite being a historical site].
