Founder of Ban Don Shrine

Mr. Niran (Kru Ong) Sucharittham, former director of Phru Champa School

History:

Gim Sue Ong Geng Shrine or Ban Don Shrine (金土王宮)

Located at 18/3, 200 Pi Road, Moo 4, Thep Krasattri Sub-district, Thalang District, Phuket Province, 83110. It was originally a small shrine in front of the Chinese opera house in the Ban Don market, next to the Bodhi tree, by the Ban Don School, Thepkrasattri Sub-district, Thalang District, Phuket Province. Later, it was moved to the Bodhi tree or Thung Nang Kaew. For the first time, it was built with wood and a zinc roof.

In 2495 B.E., Mr. Niran (Teacher Ong) Sucharittham began to develop the shrine and named it Kim Su Ong. From that time on on, he began to eat vegetables. There were spirit mediums, including Mr. Ong, who was possessed by the deity Gim Su Ong, and many other mediums.

Mr. Huad Lian from the Kathu Shrine, a medium of the deity Bok Chia, once called the deity Gim Su Ong “Tua Ji,” which means “elder sister.” Therefore, everyone understands that the deity Gim Su Ong is a woman and a warrior. It is said that this deity had an older brother, who was a general and became an ‘Ong’ in Chinese history.

Around 2500 B.E., after being vegetarian for 6 years, the shrine was moved again to the edge of the rice field, where it is now located. It was a single-story building constructed from brick and cement. In 2548 B.E., a two-story building was built. The first floor contains a large hall for activities. The rear area houses a vegetarian kitchen. The name of the shrine was changed to Gim Sue Ong Geng, which it remains today.

Source: Gim Sue Ong Geng Shrine (Ban Don)