Han Jiang Ancestral Temple Penang Teochew Association, Chulia Street, Penang
This site is the 2006 winner of an Award of Merit from the Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation.
The Han Jiang Ancestral Temple is a Teochew-style Chinese temple along Chulia Street in Penang, within a short distance from the Mahamariamman Temple and the Nagore Durgha Sheriff. I have done several photo shoots of this temple, but somehow did not get to writing the documentation about it until now. Then, when I learned that the restoration of the temple has earned a recognition from Unesco with a Heritage Conservation award, I decided that it is time to write about this temple, so that people will know more about its history.
The Han Jiang Ancestral Temple at dusk.
The Han Jiang Ancestral Temple is the community temple of the Penang Teochew Association. The association was form in 1855 by six Teochew migrants. At first they started a lodging house for newly arrived Teochews. It was located at 381 Beach Street. In 1867, they purchased the land along Chulia Street to construct the community temple. The Hanjiang Ancestral Temple was completed in 1870. At the time of completion, it was known as the Teochew Kongsi. It only changed its name to Han Jiang Ancestral Temple in 1935.
The Teochew is one of six main Chinese dialect groups in Malaysia. The Teochews originate from Chaozhou prefecture, on the eastern part of Guangdong province, bordering Fujian province, in southern China. Early Teochew immigrants arrived in Penang in the mid-19th century and settled as plantation workers in Province Wellesley. Later some moved to George Town, where they established themselves in the wholesale and dried foodstuff trades.
From the late 18th to the early 20th centuries, Chinese migrants to the Nanyang (that is to say, Southeast Asia), form mutual benefitting guilds, not unlike the merchant guilds or Hansa prevailing in mediaval Europe at that time. These guilds or associations are usually based on the people's district of origin, dialect, surname, clan or occupational group. For this reason, we can find in George Town today such associations as the Khoo Kongsi, for the Khoo clan, Teochew association, for the Teochew dialect group, and Carpenter's Guild, the association of carpenters. These associations act as a safe house for early immigrants to find shelter before establishing themselves in the new land.
The original Teochew temple was in the form of si dian jing, or four-point gold. This is a quadrangle design with an inner courtyard, or atrium. In 1890, an outer gate was added. In reflection of the prosperity of the community at that time, the gate was even more ornate than the original temple. It also has one of the biggest doors of any clan temples in Penang.
The Han jiang Ancestral Temple houses the altar to the Teochew patron deity, the Taoist god of the north as well as ancestral tablets of deceased Teochews. In keeping with the high status of the temple's patron deity, the Teochew temple features three pairs of doors instead of only one for most temples.
Over the years, the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple has suffered from long years of wear and tear as well as neglect, particularly during the period when it functioned as a school. Unsympathetic additions and alterations further contributed to marring its original beauty.
The need to restore the Teochew ancestral temple was realised quite some time ago. In July 2002, a restoration committee was formed. It consisted mainly of professionals from the Teochew community who contributed their time and skill for the restoration project. A dilapidation study was conducted on the temple. On 26 July of the same year, a fund raising dinner managed to collect RM900,000 (US$250,000) for the project. Through much of 2003, work was in progress to select a contractor to execute the tremendous task of restoring the temple to its original state.
Meticulous research conducted both in Malaysia and China to learn the building's history and architecture in order to ensure proper restoration was carried out. As the skill required is not available locally, master craftsmen were brought in from China. This allows for a level of craftsmanship that matches the original standards in terms of materials as well as technique.
As the restoration project was carried out using funds that were contributed, the restoration committee had to provide the public, and particularly the Teochew community, with regular progress reports. Teochew customs and rituals were also observed from the groundbreaking till the completion of the project.
A sophisticated lighting scheme employing fibre optics now showcases the splendid decorative details of the building. By revitalizing cultural and educational programmes, the project has succeeded in reviving the temple's religious and social functions, allowing it to serve once again as the heart of the Teochew community.
Finally the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple was completed and open to the public in March 2005.
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