DRAGON PILLAR - DRAGON PILLAR

One of historical landmarks in Toa Payoh. Unfortunately not much is known of its origin these days except that it has been standing since the 1960s...

The most generally known adaptation of the story behind this "dragon pillar" expresses that back when development laborers were building this segment of the domain in 1960s and needed to introduce the pilings required for the establishment, they experienced difficulty boring to the necessary level, and development went to a pounding stop. Supposedly, to keep away from additional deferrals, government authorities and the development organisations welcomed a few fengshui experts to investigate the site, however they all failed to recommend a remedy. Eventually, a monk consented to play out a holy and strict religious ceremony. Before he departed, the monk requested the column to be covered with dragon be planted, since this very spot turns out to be the resting spot of a specific guardian mythical beast. After the ceremony, laborers were finally able to return to work, and construction continued without a hitch. Although the construction went on without a hitch, the monk who conducted the ceremony died a few days later of unexplained causes. Many accepted the monk passing was a discipline for 'spilling the privileged insights' on the mythical beast's home. The dragon is a strong and commanding symbol. A Whampoa Dragon Fountain Statue, in front of Blk 85 Whampoa Drive, is claimed to have been constructed in tandem with this Lorong 3 Toa Payoh Dragon Pillar for Singapore's prosperity. It is interesting to note that, while authorities have over and over excused the above story as unadulterated fiction, the locals believe this is the only plausible explanation for how a swamp in this part Toa Payoh neighborhood has managed to thrive against all odds.