The Saphan Lueang Mazu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the Chinese goddess of the sea in Bangkok’s Sam Yan neighbourhood, has won an award from the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA) for architectural conservation.

Crowds of visitors filled the Saphan Lueang Mazu Shrine on Sunday (20 April), during the annual Deity Birthday Festival. The shrine has seen a larger number of worshippers recently as words spread on social media that the goddess grant wishes for students taking examination or those searching for a job.

The shrine has been at risk of demolition, as the Property Management office of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU), which owns the land on which it stands, is building a condominium on the site. When shrine caretaker Penprapa Ployseesuay refused to move out, PMCU brought a lawsuit against her, seeking the eviction of her family and 122 million baht in damages.

Activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, who has been campaigning against the shrine’s demolition, believes that receiving the award means that the ASA, an association of professional architects, has recognized the shrine’s cultural values. This would put more pressure on PMCU, he said, if it wants to go ahead with its plan to remove the shrine.

Although he said that the university’s new management seems more open to compromise, concerns remain that Penprapa’s family might still be evicted. Netiwit explained that in the local Thai-Chinese culture, shrine caretakers live onsite, in part to prevent a fire as lanterns are kept burning at all times. He said he is concerned that the university management will not take the culture into account and may attempt to evict the Mazu Shrine’s caretakers regardless of whether it decides to demolish the building or not.

In August 2023, a court ruled in favour of PMCU for the shrine’s removal. The shrine caretaker has filed an appeal, but the Appeal Court has not ruled whether to accept the appeal request. Meanwhile, the Court of First Instance has ordered that PMCU and the shrine’s caretaker try to reach a settlement.

Matichon Weekly and The Standard reported that, according to an anonymous source, the university is maintaining its position that Penprapa, along with her dogs, must vacate the property as soon as possible. A mediation meeting was scheduled yesterday (21), but Penprapa was unable to attend due to a medical condition requiring urgent surgery. Although a letter and medical certificate was submitted to the court, concerns have been raised that further legal action might be taken against her if she does not move out of the shrine.

The eviction effort sparked a student movement to support the shrine’s preservation. The documentary, The Last Breath of Sam Yan, which features Penprapa and student activists protesting against the shrine’s eviction won a Suphannahong National Film Award for best documentary of 2023.

Visitors queuing in front of the shrine's entrance on Sunday (20 April), during the annual Deity Birthday Festival.

The Saphan Lueang Mazu Shrine is still standing, now surrounded by a construction site. It remains open to visitors and is seeing an increasingly larger group of worshippers as words spread online that the goddess, who is referred to as “A-ma,” or Grandmother in the local Teochew dialect, grant wishes for those seeking for a job or students taking examinations. Netiwit also said that it is becoming more well-known among Chulalongkorn University students and is seen as a source of spiritual support. During the annual Deity Birthday Festival, which took place on 19 - 21 April, the shrine reportedly saw thousands of visitors.

Over 52,000 people have now signed a petition against the shrine’s removal. Responding to the survey attached to the petition, over 2700 responders said they are current students at Chulalongkorn University, while 3200 said they are alumni. 51 lecturers and 120 university personnel also signed the petition.

James Robson, Director of the Harvard-Yenching Institute and a Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, sent a message to Penprapa congratulating her and others who work to protect the shrine for the ASA award. 

"History and cultural heritage can be erased all too quickly with a bulldozer. Once such sites are destroyed and gone, there is no way to get them back," wrote Robson, who visited the shrine earlier this year. "Throughout history the multitude of heroes who have shown small acts of courage are rarely noted, which makes moments like this one even more important."

The ASA Architectural Conservation Awards are given annually by the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage in recognition of architectural conservation efforts by the public and private sector in Thailand. Other recipients for 2025 include the Doctor Prince Museum at the McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai, Ruean Phraya in Bangkok, the Lanna-style dharma hall at the Chiang Mai Cultural Centre, and the Lanna Folklife Centre in Chiang Mai. An award ceremony takes place every 2 years, in which recipients are presented their awards by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.