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The Hokkien community celebrates their most significant event of the year – Jade Emperor’s Birthday – on the ninth day of Chinese New Year. We check out the meaning behind the celebration’s offerings, and the place to watch the uproarious procession.

The meaning

Jade Emperor’s Birthday (Bai Tian Gong) 

According to ancient folklore, the Hokkien people couldn’t celebrate New Year for a long time because they had to escape prosecution by a cruel general. On the eighth day of lunar New Year, the Jade Emperor of Heaven came at midnight and liberated them. Hence, the Thnee Kong Seh (Jade Emperor’s Birthday) is celebrated like thanksgiving, marking the New Year for the Hokkien community. Preparation for prayers starts from 11pm on the eight day of Chinese New Year and the celebration continues until the day after.

Where to watch the procession

Yoke Wong Tai Tay Temple

A special tradition here that is not practised at other temples is ‘che kum’, which means borrowing gold in Hokkien. Devotees can take any amount of mandarin oranges that symbolise gold for prosperity and return the ‘gold’ next year by donating oranges to the temple. After the praying ceremony, the caretakers burn the paper effigies and light the firecrackers to commemorate the Emperor’s birthday. 

Section 21, SEA Park, PJ. 

The offerings

Huat kuih 

‘Huat’ means wealth and the Hokkien community offer these steamed buns to the Emperor to seek prosperity. 

Sugar cane (kam chia) 

Sugar cane in Hokkien dialect sounds like ‘kam siah’ (thank you). During the cosmic battle between the Jade Emperor and demonic forces, the Hokkien sought refuge in sugar cane plantations to escape extermination. Following the victory of Jade Emperor who defeated the demon, the Hokkien offered the Emperor sugar cane, and that day happened to be his birthday. A pair of sugar canes should be propped up or leaned against the gate of the house. 

Angkoo kuih (pictured above)

The red rice cake is considered an auspicious colour while its tortoise shell-shape symbolises longevity. 

Red hard boiled eggs 

Hard boiled eggs are a must-have during bai tian gong because they are traditionally served during birthdays. 

Roast suckling pig

The pig is sacrificed to ward off evil spirits in return for smoothsailing year ahead. 

Thnee Kong Poh

The gold coloured folded paper is shaped into a giant pineapple (called ‘ong lai’ in Hokkien, which means summoning luck) and yuen bao ta (pagoda).

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