Yap Kongsi in Penang

As you visit Penang in Malaysia, you will come across various Kongsi or Family houses. These are houses, and associations with temples built by different Chinese clans to retain their identity on the basis of their province and village of origin after they migrated to Penang. In some of the clan houses, the names of the ancestors are preserved a tribute, in the others there are worship halls for regular prayers. Nearly five famous clans from Hokkien province of China including Khoo Kongsi, Yeah Kongsi, Lim Kongsi and Tan Kongsi, had settled in Penang in some point of time in the past. Thereafter, they grew into large groups and devised this measure of building clanhouses to preserve their uniqueness. One such clan house and temple is Yap Kongsi in Penang.

Located at the intersection of Pitt and Armenia streets, Yap Kongsi in Penang commemorates the forefathers of the clan by worshipping them in the temple inside the house. It also stands as a tribute to the area where a Straits Chinese secret society called the Tua Pek Kong society flourished once. In fact, history says that the secret society used to operate from Tua Pek Kong Temple dedicated to the Chinese God of Prosperity.

Hotels in Penang
Shangri-la Rasa Sayang Hotel	Eastern And Oriental Hotel
Grand Plaza Parkroyal Hotel	Shangri-la Golden Sands Hotel
Equatorial Hotel	Northam All Suite Hotel