Khye Sian Ong Temple, Jelutong

Khye Sian Ong Temple, Jelutong, Penang (14 September 2019)


Khye Sian Ong Temple (GPS: 5.39, 100.31367) is a Chinese temple in Jelutong, Penang. It is the first and oldest temple in Southeast Asia, outside of Taiwan, to be dedicated to the Chinese Ming loyalist Zheng Chenggong (Chinese: 鄭成功; Pinyin: Zhèngchénggōng, Penang Hokkien Taiji: Tni33 Seng3 Kong1 ), but is best known in English as Koxinga (Chinese: 國姓爺; Pinyin: Guó xìng yé; Penang Hokkien Taiji: Kork1 Snaeh3 Ya2 ). Koxinga in the deified form is now being venerated by devotees as Khye Sian Ong (Chinese: 開山王; Pinyin: Kāishān wáng; Penang Hokkien Taiji: Khai3 San3 Ong2 ). 開山王 is the kingship title bestowed upon Koxinga.

According to temple history, Khye Sian Ong Temple dates back to 1804, making it the first and oldest temple to Koxinga in Southeast Asia. The temple incense is said to have originated from Fuzhou, circa 1674, where the veneration of Koxinga began. Khye Sian Ong Temple was originally a shrine at Lorong Kulit. It was relocated to its present site in Jelutong in 1820, when the temple was gifted a piece of land by one Inchi Jemal, the penghulu of the area.

In 1838, the statue of Khye Sian Ong which was in the temple, was taken to Siam, but was not returned. Without its principal deity, the temple was left to neglect until 1858, when Tua Pek Kong was instated as the resident deity. As such, the temple was renamed Khye Sian Ong Tua Pek Kong Temple. The temple underwent various rounds of renovations, in 1864, 1897, 1928, 1938 and 2000.

In 1986, a new statue of Khye Sian Ong was reinstated to the temple as principal deity, and the temple reverted to its original name of Khye Sian Ong Temple. A new statue of Khye Sian Ong was received by the temple in 2013, following the temple's participation in the celebration of Koxinga's recovery of Taiwan, and has been installed on the temple altar.

Zheng Chenggong is well remembered for his role leading the people to fight against the invading Manchus, which were at the time establishing the Qing Dynasty in place of the Ming. The battles between the resistant forces and the Qing forces happened in various part of China, from Fujian Province up to Nanjing, as well as across the straits to Taiwan.

What is little documented is that the turbulence of that period brought forth a wave of Hokkien-speaking refugees to flee Fujian and to seed settlements across Southeast Asia, enabling the Hokkien language to take hold in various parts of the region before the arrival of Mandarin.

Today Khye Sian Ong Temple has a landmark arch which is built in conjunction with the 200th-year celebration of its founding. The founding year of this temple is taken as 1820. This is based on the stelae embedded on the floor of the temple. It is one of several stela in the premises.

What is interesting about the stelae embedded on the floor is the name of the emperor was carved in complete traditional Chinese character - this is out of form, because normally the rule of 避諱 dictates that reverence to the Chinese emperor of the day requires that his name be written with one stroke missing.

However, the founding of the temple was stated on the stelae as in the 25th Year of the Jiaqing Emperor, and his name was written in Simplied Chinese (嘉庆) instead of 嘉慶. And furthermore, it is written with an additional dot to the radical 犬. Could this be a deliberate insult to the Qing Dynasty? If yes, could this be added much later, for surely if something were written in 1820, it would be in traditional Chinese characters.

Finally, an important feature of the Khye Sian Ong Temple are its wall murals, which date to 1936-37. In 2020, a grand temple arch was erected, erasing the obscurity of the temple which has elsewhile been hidden from view. The temple arch was officially opened by the Chief Minister of Penang, the Right Honourable Chow Kon Yeow on 20 March 2020.

Plaque commemorating the official opening of the Khye Sian Ong Temple Arch (13 August 2022)


Khye Sian Ong Temple, Jelutong, Penang (14 September 2019)


Front entrance to Khye Sian Ong Temple. (14 September 2019)


Plaque reading Khye Sian Ong Temple (14 September 2019)


Altar to Khye Sian Ong with two other deities namely the Tua Pek Kong and Nazu. (14 September 2019)


Closer viedw of the altar at Khye Sian Ong Temple (14 September 2019)


Wall murals of Khye Sian Ong Temple (14 September 2019)


Another view of the wall murals, with the temple bell. (14 September 2019)


View of the murals with the altar. (14 September 2019)


The newly erected arch of Khye Sian Ong Temple, to commemorate its 200th anniversary. (14 September 2019)


The name of Koxinga at the top, or Khye Sian Ong. (14 September 2019)


Another view of the Khye Sian Ong plaque on the arch. (14 September 2019)

Khye Sian Ong Temple on Google Street View

Khye Sian Ong Temple (May 2018)

Khye Sian Ong Temple is on the Map of Jelutong

References

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

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