Carpenters' Guild (Lo Pan Hang)

Carpenters' Guild, Penang (30 June 2014)


The Carpenters' Guild (GPS: 5.41908, 100.3364) at 70 Love Lane is one of the oldest trades association in Penang. It was established by carpenters and brick layers who were mostly Cantonese of the Sing Leng sub-dialect group and dedicated to the patron saint of the Cantonese tradesmen, Lo Pan, literally "North Duke", and was called Lo Pan Hang. Despite the English translation of the name as "carpenter's" guild, the association actually encompass all types of craftsmen.

The Carpenters' Guild was founded in 1850. Its original premises was at 5 Lebuh Penang. This is the starting point for craftsmen and builders - to be noted, mostly Cantonese - who arrived in Malaysia, whether to live here permanently, or on a limited-time contract, as artisans for temples and clan houses.

The guildhouse has quarters for contractors, who go out to look for contracts, and the craftsmen, who execute the jobs. As those who brought in the business are considered to have the "tougher" job, they were rewarded with better living quarters, on the front part of the guildhouse. The craftsmen, who comprised the masters and their apprentices, had to make do with the more crowded apartments in the back. Crafts are handed down from masters to apprentices, and a novice wanting to become a craftsman had to undergo a three-year apprenticeship, during which time he is only paid with meals and board.

The temple at Love Lane that we see today, called Lo Pan Ku Miau, or North Duke's Old Temple, was built in 1865, and continues to function today as the guildhouse. However, the function of craftsmen guildhouses diminished with the advent of modern building techniques, so much so that the ancient crafts needed to repair and restore many of the clan temples in Penang could no longer be sourced locally. Today the Carpenters' Guild exists more as a throw back to a bygone era than that of a functioning guild.

Carpenters' Guild (30 June 2014)


Carpenters' Guild, Bayan Baru (29 January 2005)


A guardian lion at the Carpenters' Guild (29 January 2005)


Front porch of the Carpenters' Guild (29 January 2005)

Contact

Carpenters' Guild
70 Love Lane
George Town, Penang
Phone: +60 4 262 0202

Getting to Carpenters' Guild

The easiest way to get to the Carpenters' Guild is to take a bus to Lebuh Chulia and then walk down Love Lane. The Carpenters' Guild is on the left side of Love Lane if approached from Lebuh Chulia. Take any of the Rapid Penang Bus No. 11, 101, 104, 201, 202, 203, 204 or 206 to reach that part of Lebuh Chulia.

If you prefer to walk all the way, from the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal, cross the pedestrian bridge and then turn left, walk along Pengkalan Weld until junction of Gat Lebuh Chulia. Turn right and follow Gat Lebuh Chulia. Passing the junction of Lebuh Pantai, it changes name to Lebuh Chulia. Continue until you reach the junction of Love Lane, turn right into it, and the Carpenters' Guild is on the left side of the lane, about 50 meters from the junction.

The Carpenters' Guild is on the map of Love Lane

Ornate couplets flank the doorway of the Carpenters' Guild (29 January 2005)

Nearby Sights

Directions to the following sights are in reference to the front gate of Carpenters' Guild:

List of Clan Temples in Penang, Chinese Temples in Penang and Chinese Temples in Malaysia

Private Guided Tours of Penang

If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

About this website

Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

While I try my best to provide you information as accurate as I can get it to be, I do apologize for any errors and for outdated information which I am unaware. Nevertheless, I hope that what I have described here will be useful to you.