Ficus microcarpa

A Chinese banyan tree in Wong Tai Sin temple.

The Chinese Banyan, Malayan Banyan, Indian Laurel (Ficus microcarpa),, also known as curtain fig, or Gajumaru (ガジュマル), is a tree in the fig family Moraceae. It is native in a range from China through tropical Asia.

Folklore

In Southeast Asia, F. microcarpa, among other species, is thought to be home to spirits, such as Pontianak (folklore). In China, large fig trees can be associated with beneficial spirits and vital energy ("Qi"). In Singapore, some trees are associated with places of worship among Buddhists and Taoists.