At the end of the 19th Century, the Hing Hwa (also known as “Xinghua” or in the modern day, “Putian”) people came to Nanyang to earn a living. During the journey, they worshipped the Sea Goddess, Mazu, on the boat, and asked for her blessings and protection. Upon arrival, they would pray to Mazu in their new residences as a form of gratitude. Early Hing Hwa settlers mainly lived in the North Bridge Road area. In 1920, they built the Hin Ann Thain Hiaw Keng in Queen Street, as a main place of worship for Mazu, as well as a gathering place for clansmen to share feelings of homesickness and help one another when in need.
In 1952, the temple introduced a “Marina Club”, now known as the “Li Cheng Club”. In 1956, “Nanyang Putian Clan Association” was formed. It was renamed as “Singapore Putian Association” in 2004.Hin Ann Thain Hiaw Keng relocated to Geylang in 1991, and reconstruction was completed in 2017. Since then, all three organisations, the temple, the clan association, and the members club all operate in the same building, so they can better serve their fellow clansmen and carry on the Putian cultural heritage while spreading Mazu’s spirit of universal love.
Representing them are two ink paintings The Mighty Powers of Zhong Kui and Quiet Path, and the impasto painting Peony and Narcissus. All three artists, Luo Zhong Fan, Zhang Yushu, and Fang Jilong, have Putian roots.
