Tong Tze Tham Temple, Macallum Street Ghaut

Tong Tze Tham Temple, Macallum Street Ghaut, Penang (28 January 2013)


Tong Tze Tham Temple (Traditional Chinese: 東西壇, Simplified Chinese: 东西坛) is a Chinese temple in the Macallum Street Ghaut area of George Town, Penang. It is not actually on Macallum Street Ghaut itself but one of the side roads, Lintang Macallum 2. The temple is just next to the main Nine Emperor Gods Temple of Penang. While the Nine Emperor Gods Temple faces east, the Tong Tze Tham Temple faces west. Its name translates as Altar to the East and West. The original temple was established in the 1960's, though the present building is much newer, dating back to its construction in 2006.

Tong Tze Tham Temple, front porch (28 January 2013)


Tong Tze Tham Temple venerates the Chinese god of war, best known locally as Kwan Kong (關公/关公, literally, "Lord Kwan"), or by the Mandarin deity name of Guan Sheng Di Jun (關聖帝君/关圣帝君), meaning "Saintly Emperor Guan", or simply Guan Di (關帝), meaning "Emperor Kwan". As with so many Taoist deities, Kwan Kong is the deified form of a historical personality, in this case Guan Yu (關羽/关羽), a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was deified since the Sui Dynasty (589-618 AD) and is a popular figure not only in Taoism but also Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism. While the Taoist regard him as guardian deity and god of war, in the Chinese Buddhist tradition, he is a bodhisattva.

The Tong Tze Tham Temple is a two-storey structure with the prayer hall on the upper level. It is reached by three sweeping staircases, one in the middle and the other two by the sides. These are finished in grey granite. The porch is supported by plain polished granite pillars, except for the main entrance, which is flanked by a couple of intricately carved dragon pillars. Entry to the prayer hall is via three doorways with thresholds across them. Each of these doorways are fitted with double-doors on which are the sculptured reliefs of menacing door gods.

Tong Tze Tham Temple, prayer hall (28 January 2013)


Within the prayer hall of Tong Tze Tham Temple are three shrines where the deities are installed. The image of Kwan Kong is naturally installed in the main shrine while secondary deities take their place on the left and right shrines. The whole façade is richly embellished with gilded filigree over red and black lacquered wood.

Tong Tze Tham Temple is open to the public daily from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. It is managed by the Persatuan Penganut Dewa Tong Tze Tham Kuan Tee Seng Khun Pulau Pinang.

Tong Tze Tham Temple, main shrine (28 January 2013)

How to reach Tong Tze Tham Temple

From Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, turn in to Macallum Street Ghaut. At the intersection with Lintang Macallum 2 (with Harbour Trade Centre to your left), make a right turn. Go straight on Lintang Macallum 2 until the end, and you will see the Nine Emperor Gods Temple next to Tong Tze Tham Temple.

Tong Tze Tham Temple, door god (28 January 2013)


Tong Tze Tham Temple, another door god (28 January 2013)

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