Pud Jor Shrine

It is another ancient shrine in Phuket, constructed over a hundred years ago. Although, in Phuket, there are a number of ancient Chinese shrines, Pud Jor Shrine has a distinction among those shrines. That is, Pud Jor Shrine or Am Pud Jor enshrines the statue of Guanyin Goddess or Guanyin Pud Jor, an important and the most popular deity in Mahayana Buddhism which attracts a lot of tourists to worship. Formerly, the land where the shrine is situated was a large canal, able for big boats to sail through this place. Therefore, there were boat pier and shrine in this area before. People during that time called the shrine “Tae Koon Shrine” or “Guan Yu.” When a merchant sailed three-post sailboat from Penang to trade in Phuket, he brought a carved wooden statue of Guanyin Pud Jor with him. Once he reached and saw the place where the shrine was situated, he liked it and thought it was a perfect place to invite and house Guanyin Pud Jor at Tae Koon Shrine. Later, its name was changed into Pud Jor Shrine. It is now so important that it became part of Phuket people’s daily lives. The shrine is like a spiritual sanctuary where many people come to make a wish for their auspicious lives. Besides, there is fortune sticks (Seam-si), which is spread widely as a popular treatment method.Moreover, Pud Jor Shrine was located next to Jui Dtui Shrine, another ancient shrine that stayed with Phuket people for over 100 years. The tourists who visit Pud Jor Shrine are recommended to walk further to worship the sacred deities in Jui Dtui Shrine. The tourists can received blessings and auspice from both shrines in only one visit.