War Emperor's Temple (Wu Ti Meow), King Street

Nin Yong Temple, George Town, Penang (11 February 2013)


The War Emperor's Temple or Wu Ti Meow is a clan temple at 36 King Street in George Town, Penang. It belongs to the Toi San Association based next door, at 38 King Street. The temple venerates Kwan Kung, which means Lord Kwan. This is the Wade-Giles spelling which in Pinyin is Guān Gōng (關公). Kwan Kung is regarded as the god of war. It is the deity often portrayed with a red face and holding a guandao, a huge crescent blade.

Kwan Kung is the deified form of Guan Yu (關羽), a general who served the warlord Liu Bei (劉備) during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China, during the 3rd century AD. Tales about Guan Yu appears in the Romance of the Three Kingdom (三國演義), and is often featured in Chinese operas and period dramas. Guan Yu is today worshipped as the "Saintly Emperor Guan" in Taoism, and as Sangharama Bodhisattva in Chinese Buddhism. Most Taoist temples dedicated to Kwan Kung refers to him as the War Emperor. His feast day, which commemorates his legendary birthday, falls on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month (though the actual birth day of Guan Yu is on the 22nd day of the sixth lunar month, in the year AD 160).

The War Emperor's Temple dates back as early as the 1830's, the same time that the Toi San Ninyong Temple was built. In 1912-1913, it underwent a major renovation work under architect C.W. Barnett. The renovation brought the roof of the War Emperor's Temple to the same height as its neighbouring structures. The length of the building was also reduced by seven and a half feet to create a back alley (which was of little use thereafter).

The 1912-1913 renovation also installed the plaque over the lentil. It was was based on a calligraph by Leong Ting Feng, a central government officer and calligrapher who had to go into exile in the 1890's for criticizing the Prime Minister. He re-entered the imperial court after the Boxer Rebellion, having been hired by the Empress Dowager to tutor Pu Yi, who later ascended the throne as the last emperor of China.

As with its neighbouring temples, the War Emperor's Temple has embarked on a restoration work that commerced after George Town was inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

War Emperor's Temple, before 2012 renovation (25 April 2007)


The War Emperor's Temple, with Nin Yong Temple to the right (15 September 2012)


Close-up of the inscription based on calligraphy by Leong Ti Fen at Wu Ti Meow (25 April 2007)

360° View of War Emperor's Temple on Google Street View

Getting there

The nearest bus stop is along Pitt Street. It is served by Rapid Penang bus CAT.

Location of the War Emperor's Temple on the map

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