Chek Sian Tng (积善堂) is devoted to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (观音) and its devotees follow the precepts of Xiantianjiao (先天教), a Chinese religious sect which merges key teachings from Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.
The temple's history can be traced to the early 1900s, when a teacher of Xiantianjiao, Ma Dao Quan, came to Singapore from Chaoyang county, China to spread the religion. A temple was first built at Devonshire Road for male devotees and in 1905, Chek Sian Tng was established at 10 Kramat Road for female devotees. The temple functioned at Kramat Road till the 1980s, when the land was acquired by the government for redevelopment. The temple moved to Ang Mo Kio in 1984.
Female devotees of this order may decide to commit to an ascetic life in this temple. Ascetics follow a strict regime and adopt a vegetarian diet. Unlike Buddhist nuns, they are allowed to keep their family names and their hair. Some of the ascetics were brought up by the temple as children, having been abandoned by their families for reasons such as incompatibility of their astrological profiles with other family members.
While visiting the temple, note that only female devotees are allowed in other parts of the temple besides the main hall. Male devotees are not allowed in further than the main hall.