Tiffany Teoh: Penang Khoo Kongsi ( 邱公司)

Khoo Kongsi is a large Chinese clan house with elaborate and highly ornamented architecture, a mark of the dominant presence of the Chinese in Penang,Malaysia.It is a grand temple that shines brightly along Lebuh Cannon. It was built to serve as a clan-house for ember of the Khoo family. The walls, pillars and roof are richly decorated with intricate carvings bearing the marks of master craftsmen from China and the beams are made from wood of the finest quality. the temple was rebuilt in 1920 after it was gutted by fire. Some believe the fire was brought about because of the resemlace to the Emperor's Palace in China. During the seventh lunar month, the temple comes alive with Chinese opera performances.The clan temple has retained its authentic historic setting, which includes an association building, a traditional theatre and the late 19th century rowhouses for clan members, all clustered around a granite-paved square.It is located in Cannon Square in the heart of the oldest part of the city of George Town in the midst of narrow, winding lanes and quaint-looking pre-War houses exuding a palpable old world charm.

History

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, or Khoo Kongsi for short, is one of the most distinctive Chinese clan associations in Malaysia.The Khoos were among the wealthy Straits Chinesetraders of 17th century
Malacca and early Penang. In the 19th century, the clan complex resembled a miniature clan village, with its own self-government as well as educational, financial, welfare and social organisations.It is well known worldwide for its extensive lineage that can be traced back 650 years, as well as its closely-knit and defensive congregation of buildings and a magnificent clan house.The forefathers of the Khoo family who emigrated from South China built it as a clan house for members of the Khoo family in 1851. It was burnt down in 1894, allegedly struck by lightning, and the Chinese believed that it was due to its resemblance to the Emperor's palace, which provoked the gods. A scaled-down version was later built in 1902 and completed in 1906. Even so, the complex boasts a magnificent hall embellished with intricate carvings and richly ornamented beams of the finest wood bearing the mark of master craftsmen from China.With the respective clanhouses as the nuclei, these kongsi demarcated their territories with their own terrace houses on three or four sides of the perimeters. This adjoining, closely-knit and defensive model settlement, like a clan village in the colonial city, is a rare form of congregation practised among migrant communities.

Contact
Tel: +604-261 4609
Fax: +604-262 2591
Address: 18,Cannon Square,
10200 Penang, Malaysia

Pictures of Khoo Kongsi