Lion Dance: New Lions Ritual

Lion Dance Ceremony

A lions ‘eye-dotting’ ritual and ceremony organized by Penang Wushu Lion & Dragon Dance Association. Most lions found in Penang are of the Southern Lions design and style.

“A new lion usually undergoes an eye-dotting ritual which gives the lion its ‘spirit’, because it must be brought to life and filled with a spirit through a religious ceremony. This is most of the times by a Taoist ceremony but it can be performed by any person with a high social status. The areas to be dotted with red pigment called “Zhu Sha” are the eye, ears ,nose, horn, feet, and the body; usually only the eyes are done in a public ceremony. The light in its eyes resembles that the lion’s eyes have been opened with a spirit and the shield reflects the good light from the heavens, although other explanations can be given for the mirror.”

Lion Dance Ceremony

Lion Dance Ceremony

Lion Dance Ceremony

Lion Dance Ceremony

Penang Isle: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

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Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a historical and cultural rich building located along Leith Street in George Town, Penang. A winner of multiple historical and heritage awards including the ‘Most Excellent project’ Award at the UNESCO Heritage Awards 2000, the blue mansion is one of the most visited and a definite tourist destination in Penang. The mansion is said to be one of the two of its kind outside China which also features architecture design of both Chinese and Western influences. The mansion was built by a famous Chinese merchant in 1880s named Cheong Fatt Tze and it has 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases with 220 vernacular timber louvre windows.

The mansion now serves as both a museum (with guided group tours) and a boutique hotel at the heart of Penang’s heritage zone. There is a daily guided heritage tours of the house in English (11am / 1.30pm / 3pm) with an admission fee RM 12 per person. For more information, please visit its official page HERE.

Penang Isle: Pavilion of the Jade Emperor

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Pavilion of the Jade Emperor is a temple complex built on the slope of the Penang Hill and is nearby the lower tram station.
The temple was built for the worship of the Chinese Jade Emperor (Thnee Kong). The birthday of the Jade Emperor, which falls on the ninth day of Chinese New Year, is celebrated by the Hokkien community who offer prayers and food items to the protector of their ancestors in China.

The Taoist temple complex has been undergoing major renovation since 2002 but its history and existence stretches much further to 1905. It was still a small Taoist shrine back then.

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The Jade Emperor deity statue. Prayers and offerings are made during his birthday on the ninth day of the lunar new year.

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The Entrance Arch to the temple from the main road.

Penang Isle: Cheah Kongsi

The Cheah Kongsi is one of the oldest and intriguing clan temple to be established in Penang in the year 1873.
Situated right at heart of Georgetown (Armenian Street), the Cheah Kongsi possessed a intricate and unique architecture as well as design which reflects buildings of ancient Chinese. The Cheah clan in Penang is the oldest of the five major Hokkien clan associations in Penang. Historically Cheah Kongsi was founded by Cheah Yam, a clan member who came from a village called Sek Tong in the Hokkien province of China.

Click here for the Location Map and the official website of the Cheah Kongsi is http://cheahkongsi.com.my/.