Pai Thnee Kong
Birthday of the Emperor of Heaven
Ninth Day of The Lunar New year
Research and Documentation
Chris Ong and team set up a Pai Thnee Kong altar, laid with auspicious and symbolic offerings at Seven Terraces.
The Thnee Kong Tok altar is raised, standing on benches. Gold joss paper is placed at the base (foot) of this ‘sacred’ table so that it would not touch the ground. This 'thnee kong tok' is set up facing the main door or gate, looking out.
The Thnee Kong Tok hosts rich and abundant offerings for the Jade Emperor, prepared with much love and devotion
Photo courtesy of Chris Ong, Seven Terraces
A grand offering of a whole toasty roasted pig. A chicken with head, wings and feet intact signifies completeness and wholeness for the family. Roast duck, fish and crabs join in the chorus for blessings and good fortune. Red 'mee koo' tortoise for long life!
Sugarpaste Pink Pagoda 'ngor siew th'ng', along with graceful and intricately minted Dragons, sons of the dragon, Kyling, Phoenix and various mythological creations specially ordered for the Emperor of Heaven’s table.
Penang Baba Nyonya set up a 'chien arp' a significant item, an elaborately carved stand, gilded in gold, and a parade of sticks of sweets, dried and candied fruits are assembled on it.
Chien Arp
Beans and Lentils usher in blessings too! Photo courtesy of Chris Ong, Seven Terraces
Sugarcane stands at both sides of the altar, a reminder that the Hokkiens were saved from annihilation by an enemy general during the Ming Dynasty. Sugarcane ‘Kam Chia’ in Hokkien is a homophone sounding like thank you ‘Kam Sia’.
Left to Right: Gourd (plenty and protection) banana (welcoming plentiful offsprings) thnee kue (sweetness) pomelo (Shou, the Stellar god representing longevity is always seen with this fruit in his hand).
'Ong lai' a crowned pineapple heralds glory and greatness. Oranges bring gold and wealth, as well as fresh pears, plums, apples and pomegranate. Dried fruits, biscuits, ginkgo, mushrooms, glass noodles, vermicelli, bean curd, lotus buds, fungus are presented on typical Nyonya offering tazzas and their characteristic waved rims.
A plate of Bee Koh, sticky glutinous rice so that the family stick together, faithful and harmonious. ‘Ang Cho Nee Nee Ho’ red dates brings year upon years of blessings and goodness. ‘Geng Geng Ho Boey Keng’ longans wishes for choice and selective plentiful abundance. Red flour tortoise 'mee koo' for long life, banana for plentiful progeny, and pink 'huat koay' that has to be 'cracked open' at the top, a bursting forth of prosperity. 'Keat la' clamansi lime is a homophone for everything strong and steady.
Candied fruits hold blessings and bring sweetness. Photo courtesy of Chris Ong, Seven Terraces
Golden pineapple ‘kim ong lai’ herald greatness and glory, and ‘thnee kong kim’ gold joss paper exclusively for the Emperor of Heaven.
A handsome pair of ancient Chinese boots and 'Shang Ti' crown, in royal yellow, for the Jade Emperor.
'Thnee Kong Kim' gold joss paper exclusively for the Jade Emperor and paper offerings abound, prayers and hopes for a good heaven-earth currency multiplication and exchange.
Peaches, the fruit of immortality, from the Queen Mother of the West’s garden.
Thank you, Chris Ong, and team at Seven Terraces, for the insightful evening.
Sugarpaste Pink Pagoda 'ngor siew th'ng', along with graceful and intricately minted Dragons, sons of the dragon, Kyling, Phoenix and various mythological creations specially ordered for the Emperor of Heaven’s table. 
Left to Right: Gourd (plenty and protection) banana (welcoming plentiful offsprings) thnee kue (sweetness) pomelo (Shou, the Stellar god representing longevity is always seen with this fruit in his hand). 
