Assembly Hall of the Fukien Chinese Con-gregation in Hoi An, also referred to as the Fukien or Fujian Assembly Hall. With foo jian (福建), literally meaning ‘building happiness’, it seems the founders wanted to recreate the happiness from their Chinese home-town by meeting here.

This historical place dates from the late 17th Century AD and was initially founded as a social meeting place by Fukien or Fujian merchants who emi-grated from China, yet over time also became place of worship.

It is now dedicated to Thien Hau, i.e. Mazu (fig.), the goddess of the sea and caretaker of sailors, and hence  this scale model of a Chinese junk (fig.). This female deity is widely worshipped in the coastal areas of southeastern China, as well as in many countries of Southeast Asia, especially those with a strong maritime tradition and where Chinese migrants settled, typically arriving by boat.

The courtyard in the back of the temple features an elaborate dragon pond made from terracotta, reminiscent of the dragon fountain in Hoi An's Cantonese Assembly Hall (fig.). In the pond are some gold koi carp, fish that in oriental culture symbolize abundant wealth.

In the front garden there is a pond with the  statue of a giant carp and some egrets.