Those who shaped our temple
For over a century, a lineage of devoted monks and generous benefactors have shaped Leong San Buddhist Temple into the sanctuary it is today. From the founding monk who carried a Guan Yin incense burner from Fujian, to the abbots and patrons who built, restored, and sustained the temple through the decades.
Venerable Zhuan Wu (转武法师, ~1870–1930)
Born Zhu in Hengzhou, Hunan, Venerable Zhuan Wu ordained at age 30 at Putuo Temple in Xiamen. Commissioned by the abbot of Quanzhou Longshan Temple, he travelled south to Singapore in 1913, bringing with him a Guan Yin incense burner. Skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly the treatment of eye diseases, he became well known among the local community. With the help of Venerable Zhuan Dao of Thian Hock Keng Temple, he secured land at Race Course Road in 1917 and built a few thatched huts he named Dragon Mountain Hermitage (龙山精舍). He also served as Honorary President of the Chinese Buddhist Association. Venerable Zhuan Wu passed away in 1930.
Venerable Rui Deng (瑞等法师, ?–1942)
Originally from Haicheng, Fujian, Venerable Rui Deng served as supervisor (监院) at Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen before travelling to Singapore in 1922 to assist his master, Venerable Zhuan Wu. He dedicated himself to reviving and expanding the hermitage, earning the admiration of the local community and the support of philanthropist Tan Boon Liat. After the temple's reconstruction in 1926, Venerable Rui Deng succeeded as Abbot and organised the Fu Yuan Nianfo Hui, a monthly chanting assembly on the 17th of each lunar month that drew a large following. Under his leadership, the rear He Yun Hall and Sutra Library were also built. Venerable Rui Deng passed away in 1942.
Tan Boon Liat (陈文烈, 1878–1940)
Born in Singapore to a family of Hokkien ancestry from Tong'an, Fujian, Tan Boon Liat was educated at Raffles Institution and went on to establish a successful rattan trading business, later reorganised as Tan Boon Liat & Co. in 1923. A renowned philanthropist, he founded the Tan Boon Liat Academy to provide education for underprivileged children. Impressed by Venerable Rui Deng's dedication, he proposed transforming the humble hermitage into a proper temple, donating $2,000 as seed money and leading the fundraising effort that raised $19,618 from 595 donors. Construction began in December 1925 and was completed in June 1926, and Dragon Mountain Hermitage was renamed Dragon Mountain Temple (龙山寺). Boon Liat Street in Singapore is named in his honour.
Venerable Zhuan Feng (释转逢, 1880–1952)
Born in Nan'an, Fujian, Venerable Zhuan Feng ordained at Xuefeng Temple at age 17 and received full precepts at Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen. He spent over a decade studying at renowned monasteries across Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In 1920, he was appointed Abbot of Nanputuo Temple, where he transformed it from a hereditary temple into an open ten-direction monastery, established its regulations, and helped found the Minnan Buddhist Academy in 1925 to nurture monastic talent. During the war years, he embarked on pilgrimages across Southeast Asia, Tibet, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka, studying Vajrayana Buddhism at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. In 1948, he was invited to serve as Abbot of Leong San Buddhist Temple in Singapore, where he re-established monastic discipline and devoted himself to practice until his passing in 1952. His disciple, Venerable Guang Jing, later enshrined his relics in a stupa at Nanputuo Temple.
Venerable Sek Kong Hiap (释广洽, 1900–1994)
Born Huang Runzhi in Nan'an County, Fujian, Venerable Kong Hiap was ordained at Puzao Temple near Nanputuo in 1921, with Venerable Rui Deng as his tonsure master. He served at Nanputuo Temple and studied under the renowned Master Hong Yi for ten years, assisting with Dharma affairs and overseeing the Buddhist Yangzheng Academy. In 1937, he sailed to Singapore to join his teacher at Leong San Temple. During the Japanese occupation, he organised relief efforts for refugees. Appointed Abbot in 1952 following Venerable Zhuan Feng's passing, he founded Mee Toh School in 1954 and successfully petitioned for Vesak Day to become a public holiday in 1956. A devoted patron of the arts, he held exhibitions of Master Feng Zikai's works. He was awarded the Public Service Medal (BBM) in 1988 and the Ministry of Education Meritorious Award in 1990.
Venerable Guang Jing (广净法师, 1910–1997)
Born in Xianyou, Fujian, Venerable Guang Jing received full ordination at Kaiyuan Temple under Venerable Zhuan Dao at age 22. In 1935, he was appointed supervisor of Kaiyuan Temple, and later built Muxi Temple to enshrine the relics of his master, Venerable Zhuan Feng. He arrived in Singapore in 1952 and served as Vice-President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation and Chairman of its Supervisory Committee. A prolific benefactor, he donated to and participated in the restoration of over 30 Buddhist temples across Quanzhou, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou — the most of any overseas Chinese monk. He served as Abbot of Leong San Buddhist Temple until his passing in 1997.
