Kew Leong Tong, which means Hall of Nine Dragons, is the principal association of the Lim clan. The name Kew Leong Tong is to commemorate the nine sons of a particular Lim clan in China who were elevated to the status of chief magistrates during the Tang Dynasty.
The head office is locked behind an iron grill gate at Ah Quee Street in Penang. It is one of three Lim clan associations in Penang, and is considered the parent of the three. The Kew Leong Tong Lim Kongsi was founded by people of the Lim surname who came from the village of Koe Guan in the sub district of Sam Tor, in the district of Hai Teng, in Cheang Chew prefecture, in Hokkien (Fujian) Province, China. Nevertheless, the association is open to anybody surnamed Lim, regardless their origin and dialect.
View of Lim Kongsi in Penang.
The three Lim clan associations in Penang were established in 1863, in the 2nd year of the reign of Emperor Tong Ti. In addition to Kew Leong Tong, the other associations are Toong Pun Tong and Bian Soot Tong. The Bian Soot Tong Lim Kongsi was confined to the descendents of two sub-groups of Koe Guan, namely the Keong Cheng and Eh Ho, whereas the Toon Pun Tong Lim Kongsi was open to all the families from Koe Guan. As for Kew Leong Tong, it is open to all Lims.
Lim Cheng Kah was the president of all the 3 Lim Kongsis, and the association was run from an office at Messrs Chop Heng Moh at 164 Beach Street. When the Lim Ancestral Temple building was completed in 1866, the Kew Leong Tong moved its office there. The address was 234 Beach Street. Later, Ah Quee Street was demolished when the Kapitan China Chung Keng Kwee alias Ah Quee donated his Beach Street shophouse to be demolished to create the street that bears his name. Ah Quee Street runs beside 164 Beach Street which also happens to be the longest shophouse in Penang.
In 1930, the three Lim Kongsis officially separated, and had different management committees. Nevertheless, whenever either of them hold an important function, members of all three associations are invited, and the functions are usually held at the joint premises at Kew Leong Tong.
As one enters the Kew Leong Tong, one finds a well, and the shrine to Mar Chor Poh, the patron saint of seafarers, whose surname happens to also be Lim. The Lim Kongsi is the only local clan association whose patron deity is a female. Kew Leong Tong Lim Kongsi is one of the 5 trustee kongsis of the Chinese Recreational Club, CRC, and still supports children of Kongsi members who need scholarship and school supplies assistance.
The Kew Leong Tong Lim Kongsi during the Chinese New Year 2005 open house.
(left) The gates of the Kew Leong Tong Lim Kongsi, usually locked, is opened to the general public during the Chinese New Year Open House.
(right) Intricate design on the incense burner at Lim Kongsi. (below) Ornamental window of the ancestral temple.
(left and below) Door gods, having received a fresh coat of paint, were resplendent.
(above) Participants engaging in a Chinese Chess competition at the Lim Kongsi Chinese New Year Open House. (left) A wooden window at the Lim Kongsi.
Visitors admiring the newly restored Lim Kongsi ancestral temple. The rooftop of Cheah Kongsi is visible from here.
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When the Chinese immigrated to Penang in the mid 19th to the mid 20th century, they built ornate clan temples that are today heritage sites in Penang. Explore them with AsiaExplorers.
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