Bang Neow Shrine, Phuket普吉蕃薯园斗母宫

Type

Overseas Daoist Temples

Location

Thailand · Phuket Province · Phuket · At the corner of Bang Neow Road, Phuket Rd, Talat Yai (near Saphan Hin Park)

Coordinates

7.8766, 98.3944 Map ↗

First built

1904 · Relocated twice following fires; its present site is on Phuket Road near Saphan Hin

Overview

Bang Neow Shrine (Thai: San Chao Bang Neow, also called Tao Bo Keng) was founded in 1904, is dedicated chiefly to the Nine Emperor Gods and Doumu, and is one of Phuket's three great Doumu shrines. The shrine has been relocated twice in its history following fires, and its present site is on Phuket Road near Saphan Hin Park. During the Nine Emperor Gods Vegetarian Festival, this shrine, together with Kathu and Jui Tui shrines, jointly bears the core rites of the festival — processions, fire-walking over coals, climbing the ladder of knife-blades, and sending the Nine Emperors back on their return journey — making it the largest annual religious event for Phuket's Chinese community. Records of the shrine's official Chinese name vary; this entry follows the commonly used translation, with the Thai name given as ศาลเจ้าบางเหนียว.

Highlights

• One of Phuket's three great Doumu shrines
• Founded in 1904, relocated twice after fires
• A principal venue for the Nine Emperor Gods Festival's procession and fire-walking rites