The Tiger God Shrine, or San Chaopho Suea, is a Taoist shrine built in a Southern Chinese architectural style.
According to legend, the shrine honors the spirit of a tiger that once lived in the jungle surrounding this area, and the statue housed here is where his bones and spirit are kept.
The Tiger GOd Shrine
This shrine was built in 1834 during the reign of King Rama III. In the past, it was located on Bamrung Mueang Road but was relocated by the command of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to Tanao Road, the present location.
The shrine houses statues of Chinese Supreme Being, including the Tiger God (Xuanwu), Guan Yu (God of Honesty), Caishen (God of Fortune), Sun Wukong (Monkey God) and Mazu (Goddess of the Sea). The shrine also contains many rare antiques, some of which are more than 100 years old.
The Tiger God Shrine is always busy and usually filled with clouds of incense. During festival times the shrine features music and puppet shows.
The Worshippers
The Tiger God Shrine attracts mainly Chinese-Thai people and is popular among local Buddhists. People come to pray for prosperity, good fortune, and protection from evil. It’s also popular with couples who pray for a child, brining offerings of sugar tigers.
People usually worship the shrine with 18 joss sticks burned in six pots, one pair of red candles, one garland, and offerings of flowers, cookies, and fruit.
How To Worship
To worship the Tiger God, worshippers usually use pork, egg, and sweetened sticky rice.
Within the shrine you’ll also see people casting lots. This is where worshippers shake cans containing numbered wooden sticks until one falls to the floor. The number is then taken to the back of the hall where a corresponding fortune printed on a paper sheet can be found.
You can also see wooden blocks being thrown across the floor. Worshippers believe that how these blocks fall helps them to make good decisions.
The Tiger God Shrine is an interesting stop if you’re visiting Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing, which are just around the corner.
The shrine is located at 486 Tanao Road and is open daily from 6AM until 5PM.
The nearest MRT station is Sam Yot. And, admission is free.
