The Pinang Peranakan Mansion (30 August, 2013)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion; A Museum of Straits Chinese Cultural Heritage is a handsome coffee table book that showcases one of the most opulent mansions in George Town, Penang. I first wrote about this mansion, which I call
Hai Kee Chan, way back in 2004. I am pleased to learn that seven years later, my schoolmate Chan Suan Choo has come out with the official book of the mansion. This book serves a dual role, to explain the history of the building, and to celebrate its present incarnation.
Hai Kee Chan was built by Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, the famous leader of the Hai Sans. It occupies a prime location along Church Street. To take over this plot, the Kapitan had to relocate several buildings occupying it, among them
Meng Eng Soo, head office of the Ghee Hin Society, which was reestablished at
Rope Walk.
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion (30 August, 2013)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Next to it, the Kapitan built
Shen Zi Jia Shu, on the original site of the Cantonese district association,
Ng Fook Thong, which was provided with a new (and even larger) site on
Chulia Street, along with a large grant that went into the association's building fund.
The mansion was acquired in 2001, and from there its rebirth in its present form. Although the Kapitan is China-born, and hence a Sinkheh, the mansion today showcases the rich culture and heritage of the Straits Chinese. It displays the large collection of Peranakan antiques assembled by the present owner.
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a beautiful book. It is filled with lots of interesting details about the mansion, then and now. Much care is taken in the choice of photographs, in the typeface used, and even in the choice of paper printed. No other book so far has explained the mansion as well as this.
Tim with Chan Suan Choo, author of The Pinang Peranakan Mansion (30 August, 2013)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Details
Title: The Pinang Peranakan Mansion; A Museum of Straits Chinese Cultural Heritage
Author: Chan Suan Choo
ISBN: 978-967-10690-0-4
Publisher: Pinang Peranakan Mansion Sdn Bhd
Year of First Publication: 2011
Buying this book
At time of writing (September 2013), this book is still available at the local bookshops.
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Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.
