Leong San Tong Ku Kongsey (Ku Kongsey)
Malaysia, Georgetown

Leong San Thong Ku Kongxi (Ku Kongxi) is a clan temple of the Ku dynasty, one of the most famous Chinese tribal unions in Malaysia, located on the northeast coast of Penang Island, in the heart of the old part of Georgetown. Clan Ku (Clan of the Hall of the Mountain Dragon) was one of the first to do business on Penang Island and in the 17th century was considered the richest and most influential Chinese family of Malacca. In the 19th century, this clan in Georgetown owned a whole block that resembled a traditional village with its own administrative center, financial, educational and public organizations. Around the large courtyard, paved with granite slabs, a clan temple, four rows of residential buildings of members of the Ku dynasty, an opera house, shops and administrative buildings were erected. The settlement was surrounded by a wall, three entrances led into the complex - the main entrance was on Cannon Street. The Ku Kongsey Clan Temple was built in 1851, and in 1894, from a lightning strike, the building burned to the ground. They say that in this way the gods punished the Ku clan for pride - the splendor and wealth of the family temple surpassed the palace of the Emperor of China. In the years 1902-1906, Ku Kongsey was rebuilt - it was smaller and more modest than the first temple, but even its simplified copy amazes with splendor of decor and richness of decoration. The walls of the building are decorated with rich stone and wood carvings, decorative ornaments, stucco moldings, sculptures and frescoes made by the best craftsmen from China and Malaysia. The decoration of Ku Kongxi is made in the style of Fujian temples, the carved roof of the building itself is a real work of art. The clan temple was dedicated to the divine patrons and protectors of the Ku family, and was also a place of worship for the deceased ancestors. There are only three halls in Ku Kongsey - the central one serves as a temple, its walls are decorated with frescoes with images of thirty-six Heavenly guardians of the clan. In the hall located in the right wing of the building, gilded tablets with the names of clan members are stored (the tablets are arranged in accordance with the hierarchy of members of the Ku family). The third hall now houses a museum, the exposition of which introduces the history of the Ku clan. On the stage of the theater, during the seventh lunar month according to the Chinese calendar, a traditional Chinese opera sounds today. Currently, the clan temple of Ku Kongsey is one of the most famous historical and architectural attractions of Penang, as part of the historic center of Georgetown, Ku Kongsey is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tourist Objects nearby
Temple Kek Lok Si
Temple Kek Lok Si
Related Tour Objects
Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple
Temples
Riga Cathedral of the Nativity
Riga Cathedral of the Nativity
Temples
Tamil Temple Sri Meenadchi Sundareswarar Temple
Tamil Temple Sri Meenadchi Sundareswarar Temple
Temples
Basilica of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in St. Lipka
Basilica of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in St. Lipka
Temples
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Temples
Church of the Holy Savior
Church of the Holy Savior
Temples