SIBU: Middle age is a time when many, if not most people, start sporting noticeably portly figures, wrinkles, telling cellulite and all the rest of it. There’s no escaping the toll Father Time takes on us.
But the story is not necessarily the same in the natural world especially when it comes to nature’s gift to mankind – trees.
Take for example the raintree that stands proudly at the entrance of the Sibu Eng Ann Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple. Sturdy as a rock, the imposing giant tree towers 15 metres with its branches generously reaching out to provide shade for all who come by.
And the best part? At about 150 years of age it has reached just about half the lifespan of raintrees, which is 300 years.
To top it all this particular raintree has a remarkable story.
According to the temple’s historian Chua Chong Hieng, in the early 1950s, this raintree served as a kind of ‘post office.’
“The predominantly Chinese population would gather here to either receive letters from loved ones in China or send letters to their families back in China, as there was no official post office at the time,” he said.
Chua, who vividly recalls those days, said when townsfolk wanted to come together for social gatherings, the raintree was the natural focal point.
This was because the town had only three rows of shophouses, making the tree, situated at the temple’s entrance, a prominent landmark.
Legend has it that the tree was originally planted by an early, unknown Chinese settler from China who worked as a trishaw rider and sought refuge from the sun under the tree’s ample shade.
The Chinese settler also made a living by ferrying womenfolk to the temple for prayers.
A plaque placed at the base of the tree bears certification from the Sarawak Forestry Department, attesting to its status as a raintree.
“At one point, there were five raintrees surrounding the temple, but unfortunately, two of them perished during a severe flood that struck the town.
“Today, we are left with just three, with two of them located behind the temple. In those days, these trees provided perfect shade for people to meet and gather,” Chua stressed.
Since the only wharf in town was situated along the riverfront, adjacent to the temple, people from various ethnic backgrounds came to take boats to other destinations.
Commuters would patiently wait beneath the raintree while anticipating the arrival of their boats.
Said to be one of the oldest trees in town, estimated to be around 150 years old, these three raintrees remain in excellent health. Raintrees typically have a lifespan of around 300 years.
“During the hot season, like the one we have here, they retain their lush green foliage, but as the monsoon season approaches towards the year end, they gracefully shed their leaves, which, when dried, become natural fertiliser for the tree,” he said.
The raintree at the temple’s entrance which has weathered the test of time has over the years also played another role.
“We have placed a statue of Datuk Kong (deity) at the base of the tree for people to offer their prayers,” said Chua.
As for the temple’s age, Chua referenced the Kingdom of Sarawak Government Report of Sarawak Gazette of 1871, which states that the temple is 152 years old.
“We believe the temple is actually older by about 20 years, but due to the lack of official records, we accept the Forestry Department’s declaration,” he added.
The temple underwent renovation in 1979, transitioning to a concrete structure. Subsequently, in 1982, a seven-storey pagoda was constructed adjacent to it for the worship of the Goddess of Mercy.
And all these have taken place under the graceful arcs of the temple raintree.
