The Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi of Penangoften known simply as Khoo Kongsi is the finest Chinese clan house in Malaysia or for that matter anywhere outside of China. AsiaExplorers takes you behind the exquisite façade of this the famous clan temple to offer you a glimpse at one of the oldest clan associations in Penang.

Khoo Kongsi was founded in 1835 on the 8th day of the 5th moon of the Chinese calendar when 102 members of the Khoo clan gathered to form an association to look after the welfare of Khoo clansmen in the Nanyang. It was to be similar to another Khoo association in China the Ee Kok Tong. One of the functions of the association was to keep records of the clan ancestors and descendents. The result of this meticulous exercise is that the Khoos have one of the most complete genealogical charts of all the clans in Penang.

Layout of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

The clan temple consists of two floors the ground floor and the top floor. The ground floor was previously occupied by the Toon Boon Tong or the Parentage Society. Nowadays it is used as the Khoo Kongsi Clan Museum. To the left of the museum is the giftshop.
The top floor is accessible by the grand staircase. Flanking the staircase are the Two Monks. The one on the right is the Crying Monk. On the other side is the Laughing Monk. Now why is the monk laughing? Look under him and you will find that there is a small copper coin embedded beneath the handrail. The Laughing Monk is laughing because he is sitting on money.

There are three main halls on the top. They are the central hall the ancestral hall and the hall to the god of prosperity. The central hall is the most ornate. The ancestral hall and the hall to the god of prosperity carry plaques commemorating the awards and achievements by noted members of the Khoo clan.