Click here for online registration  of Brain, DNA and the Metamorphosis of Life Symposium

To find out about the symposium, click here

Speakers at symposium (left to right): Professor Chua Nam-Hai. Professor C.F. Lee. Venerable Huimin, PhD.

Professor Chua Nam-Hai.

Andrew W. Mellon Professor, Head of Plant Molecular Biology, the Rockefeller University, New York, USA

Professor C.F. Lee.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Director, School of Professional & Continuing Education, University of Hong Kong

Venerable Huimin, PhD.

Professor of Taipei National University of Arts

The Cultural Compass is a volunteer managed Social Initiative promoting Cultural Understanding.

Cultural Compass conducts walking tours at the Shuang Lin Monastery, the oldest Buddhist Monastery Singapore. The monastery was built in 1898, 79 years after the British founding of Singapore. The tours explore anthropological issues of human interactions and their impact on society.  Tours are conducted in simple language and easy to understand manner. No prior knowledge of Chinese culture or anthropology is necessary but remember to bring your camera!  See what other have to say. or see who's been here.

The monastery has attracted visitors and tourists since its beginning and was often featured in postcards. The postcard on the right is one of the earliest example and its postmark is dated 4 pm 7 Sept 1932.

At the end of the tour, visitors get a set of FREE POSTCARDS that shows details of monastery architecture and sculptures. 

The Cultural Compass Project is for local and global audience;

Tours are conducted in ENGLISH and is open to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or nationality.

All are welcome. The tours looks at various dimensions of culture.

Some of the themes include; Buddhism & Society, Frozen Moonlight, Cultural History of Nature. See Tour topics for details. You are welcomed to ask questions you have always wondered about history, culture or society. If you are planning a program for a club, organization or school, click here.

See what other have to say.

Cultural Compass has welcomed visitors from more than 193 cities in 43 countries and territories. 

For an idea of how the tours are like, hear what a visitor has to say: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwwZ6c_J6Gs

To see more feedback click here or you may like to read  comments.

If you want to get a brochure or join a car pool, click here.

Postcard Sponsors from around the world sponsor the postcards.

Currently, 40 sponsors from 10 countries and territories, from all walks of life: diplomat, professors, academics, businessman, professionals and individuals.

Charity projects reach out to people in different countries with different needs regardless of ethnicity, nationality or religion.

Volunteer opportunities. Cultural Compass is managed by volunteers who transform their professional skills into social capital.

If you have a skill or interest and would like to volunteer, please feel free to contact Cultural Compass. You can contribute on a project basis or on a longer term.

See the Global and local connections.

The program is free but for those who like to, a suggested contribution of S$15 (US$ 9) is appreciated.  100% of contributions are used for charity projects. Cultural Compass is managed by volunteers who contribute their professional expertise and time. (No professional fees!) Volunteers do not derive any income from participation.

See  feedback of the tour

The Cultural Compass logo shows the 4 compass points in different languages set in a graphic that represents ancient Chinese notion of the universe.

Read the Story of Cultural Compass and symbolism of the logo

Shuang Lin Monastery and Anthropology

Founded in 1898, the Shuang Lin Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in South East Asia. It's full name is "Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery" and also commonly known as Siong Lim Temple, Siong Lim See, Balestier Road Chinese Temple, Kim Keat Road Chinese Temple, Shuang Lin Temple.

Most of the material culture (sculptures, calligraphy, pillars etc) that one sees today are the very same artifacts that visitors saw a hundred years ago. As the monastery still functions, this makes it a “living institution” as opposed to a museum. Visitors see the monastery in its cultural setting.

In 1990, the monastery was gazetted as a National Monument. In 1999, the monastery earned the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) Architectural Heritage Award for quality and good efforts in restoration. This backdrop offers excellent ethnographic materials to explore anthropological issues.

Its history and material culture provided clues to appreciate the dreams, passions, and aspirations of Chinese migrants in their new homeland, their interaction with diverse ethnic groups as well as their joys and sorrows as the region passed through the tides of history. As much as it reflects local events, the monastery's history also demonstrates the connection and integration with developments at the global level.

The monastery’s 100 years history and its continuous functioning offer a window to observe changes over time. Changes have often been perceived as tension between the “traditional” and the “modern”, the “local” and the “global”. The various tours will reveal it is not a clash of forces but an interaction of notions that are fluid and ever changing to begin with. The “tradition” and the “local” have the ability to evolve and engage changes in the greater world and continue to be a relevant part of “modern” living.

From an anthropological perspective, the monastery becomes the central compass point where the East meets the West, Yesterday meets Tomorrow. It is a story of human interaction and cultural exchange over space and time.

Special thanks and appreciation to Venerable Wai Yan, who is the Abbot of Shuang Lin Monastery for permission to launch the Cultural Compass project in the Shuang Lin Monastery, Singapore.

Click here to read about tour topics

Click here to read about tour schedules

since 22 Dec 2004