Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Tua Pek Kong

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Tua Pek Kong

Tua Pek Kong (Chinese: 大伯公; pinyin: Dàbó Gōng, Hakka: Thai phak koong, Hokkien: Tuā-peh-kong, Cantonese: daai6-baak3-gung1, Malay: Topekong, Indonesian: Toa Pekong). lit. "grand uncle") is one of the pantheon of Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean folk religions. He is believed to have arrived in Penang 40 years before Francis Light in 1746.

Tua Pek Kong was a man named Zhang Li (张理) from the Hakka clan. His Indonesian Sumatra-bound boat was struck by wind and accidentally landed on Penang island of Malaysia, which at that time had only 50 inhabitants. After his death, the local people began worshipping him and built the Tua Pek Kong temple there. Today Tua Pek Kong is worshipped by Malaysian Chinese throughout the country. Tua Pek Kong is often mistaken for Tu Di Gong, partially because of their physical similarities.

Chung Keng Quee was a principal donor to the Haichu-yu (Sea Pearl) Tua Pek Kong Temple (1865 and 1868) in Tanjung Tokong, Penang. Another famous temple is the Tua Pek Kong Temple, Sibu with its 7-storey pagoda and has become a landmark for Sibu.

References

Tua Pek Kong Wikipedia