주소: Jl. Segara Ening 14, Benoa, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung
The Caow Eng Bio Temple is one of the oldest on Bali, dating back, according to local stories, to the Kingdom of Badung, around 1548, dedicated to the adoration of the Goddess Shui Wei Sheng Nian and Xiongdi Gong, deities of the sea and protectors of the Hainanese people. At the time, some Hainan merchants set anchor in the archipelago but were attacked and robbed while crossing the Malacca Strait. The survivors continued their journey but were struck by a tempest. The story goes that a voice, probably of a sea deity, intervened to calm their souls and the storm in return for their promise to build a temple. The King of Pemecutan Badung gave land to the merchants to build a temple which still, today, welcomes the prayers of Chinese descendants and local residents alike. Its colourful architecture, decorated with statues, divinities and Chinese lamps comes to life especially for the Lunar New Year, between Feburary and April, with shows, dances, martial arts and classical Oriental music.
Dedicated to the cultivation of rice and the protection of the island from spirits, it is a temple with structural characteristics different from other sacred places in Bali. Its position is strategic for its centrality and coolness.
Written by Balinese scholar Professor I Made Bandem and American art historian Bruce W. Carpenter, this stunning study of masks as an ancient art form is a richly illustrated book, with over 1000 color images by photographer Doddy Obenk.
Pura Sada Kapal: the temple that changes for faith and for the ages
The vicissitudes linked to its destruction due to an earthquake and its reconstruction due to the faith of the inhabitants of the village in which it is located, make it a place with a fascinating and unique history and appearance.
Natural pigments & dyes in Balinese traditional crafts
Colors play a vital role in Balinese culture and identity: they are symbolic and their origins are sacred. Traditional Balinese arts and crafts arise from the interconnection between man, the forces of nature and the cosmos, resulting in a divine unity.